PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has shown continuing concern for the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte as he once again sent his team to visit and give relief to more struggling Samaleños in Barangays Tagbaobo and Anonang on Wednesday, June 15.
Just days before, on June 3, Go had personally led the distribution of aid to thousands of residents in the said barangays.
In a video message, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the free COVID-19 vaccines from the government. The senator underscored that their participation will significantly help the country attain population protection leading to herd immunity as soon as possible.
With the reported entry of a new COVID-19 subvariants, Go also cited that vaccines are the key to the country’s speedy return to normalcy.
“Bakuna lang sa kasalukuyan ang solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makakabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay. Bakuna ang ating kinakailangan. Kaya magpabakuna na kayo at libre naman ito galing gobyerno. Kung mahal ninyo ang inyong mga anak, magpabakuna na kayo,” Go emphasized.
“Nakikiusap rin lang ako sa inyo, magtiwala lang kayo sa ating gobyerno dahil nagsusumikap kami na makabalik na tayo sa normal na pamumuhay. Kagaya noon, gusto ko kayong yakapin. Itong mga matatanda, yinayakap ko talaga noon pero ngayon, madami na ang bawal ng dahil sa COVID-19. Para magkakayap na tayo ulit pagdating ng panahon, magtulungan tayo at magtiwala po kayo,” he added.
Held at the respective barangay gymnasiums, the senator’s team distributed relief items, such as grocery packs, vitamins, masks, snacks and shirts, to a total of 859 residents, composed of solo parents, fisherfolk, senior citizens and indigents.
Moreover, they gave bicycles, phablets, shoes and watches to select individuals. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, Go also sent balls for basketball and volleyball to the youth to encourage them to engage in sports. The senator stressed that sports will teach them discipline, help them avoid vices, and mold them into productive citizens in the future.
“Kami (ay) nagsusumikap ni Presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan. Nakita niyo naman ang sakripisyo niya para sa ating bansa ngayon na para maging safe. Gumanda ang buhay natin, gumanda ang ating siyudad para makapaglakad na ang ating mga anak sa gabi na hindi na matatakot na mabastos,” Go cited.
“Iyan ang sakripisyo ng ating mahal na Presidente. Hindi natin sasayangin ang ating nasimulan, ating ipagpapatuloy ang kanyang nasimulan at ang kanyang sakripisyo para po ito sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak,” he continued.
Go then commended the Department of Social Welfare and Development for extending financial assistance to the residents to support their essential needs.
He also encouraged Samaleños with health concerns to visit the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City or Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City where there are Malasakit Centers ready to assist them.
The center is a one-stop shop that seeks to reduce the hospital bills of particularly poor and indigent patients to the lowest possible amount by covering various services and expenses. To date, there are 151 Malasakit Centers that have assisted more than three million Filipinos nationwide.
“Kung kailangan niyo ng tulong sa pagpapaospital, magsabi lang kayo, pati pamasahe hanggang sa makabalik kayo dito sa Samal, tutulungan ko kayo sa pagpapaospital kaya huwag kayong mag-alala, tutulungan ko kayo,” offered Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act.
Go, who also serves as the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported several projects in Samal City, including the construction of the road at Port of Brgy. Sta. Cruz to Brgy. Linosutan, Talicud Island, Kaputian District; the road from Crossing Toril to Brgy. Sto. Niño, Babak District; and the road from San Agustin Elementary School to Maximo Arellano Elementary School, Brgy. Sto. Niño, Babak District.
He also supported the water system projects in Brgys. Pangubatan, Libertad, San Remigio, Kinawitnon and Miranda; construction of bypass road Jct. Babak-Samal-Kaputian Road-Brgy. San Antonio-Tagpopongan, Phase 2, IGACOS Circumferential Road; and the construction of a two-story multipurpose building and a farm-to-market road in Brgy. Tambo.
To ensure that Samaleños have better access to health services, the senator also supported the construction of the IGACOS Super Health Center.
Other initiatives he supported in Davao del Norte are the construction of a river wall and concreting of the Sitio Bunsalag to Sitio Misulok-Sulok road in Talaingod; construction of a concrete revetment along the Tagum-Libuganon River Basin and dike along the Sadpudon Creek in Carmen; construction of multipurpose buildings in Kapalong and New Corella; and renovation of the public terminal, public parks and plaza in New Corella.
Go then reaffirmed that he will continue to serve the Filipinos the best way he can to achieve the Duterte Administration’s goal of providing a comfortable life for all.
“Basta gusto ko lang sabihin sa inyo na nandito lang ako na handang magserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya. Magsisikap lang ako palagi,” Go committed. (OSBG)
