SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go continued to help the vulnerable residents of the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, during his latest visit there on Monday, April 25. This time, Go and his team conducted three separate relief operations for indigent residents in Barangays Del Monte, San Jose and Cawag.

In his message, Go encouraged Samaleños to seek assistance from concerned agencies or his office should they need help, especially during these tough times due to the pandemic.

“Kung mayroon kayong problema sa bayarin, sa pagpapalibing, bayarin sa ospital, huwag kayong mag-atubili na lumapit sa aming opisina. Hindi ako mangangako dahil hindi ako pulitiko na mangangako sa inyo. Pero gagawin ko ang lahat para makatulong at gagawin ko lahat para makapagserbisyo sa inyo,” he reassured.

Thanking the Samaleños for their continuing support throughout the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, Go told the residents that helping them is part of his and the President’s duties as public servants.

“Huwag kayong magpasalamat sa amin… kami ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo, kaya hindi namin sasayangin ang oras at ibabalik namin sa inyo ang aming pagseserbisyo. Gagawin namin lahat ng aming makakaya,” he added.

To ensure the safety of the 2,494 residents in attendance at the respective barangay halls, the senator’s outreach team grouped the beneficiaries, composed of fisherfolk, senior citizens, drivers and indigents, into smaller batches and strictly enforced the necessary health protocols.

Go then personally led the distribution of grocery packs, vitamins, shirts, meals and masks to the residents. He also provided new pairs of shoes and bicycles to select individuals and provided others with phablets.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development separately distributed financial assistance to qualified residents.

As part of his commitment to improve access to quality healthcare services, Go also advised the beneficiaries to visit the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City where there are Malasakit Centers available to help them settle their hospital bills.

Otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, Republic Act No. 11463 mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all hospitals administered and managed by the Department of Health to ensure that poor and indigent patients can conveniently access medical assistance programs by the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Mayroon tayong Malasakit Center sa SPMC sa Davao, puwede kahit taga-Samal. Hanapin niyo lang ang karatula ng Malasakit Center, kami na ang tutulong pati sa inyong pamasahe hanggang sa makauwi kayo ng Samal, kami na ang tutulong,” said Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463.

“Sa Tagum, nagbukas din tayo doon sa ospital at mayroon ding Malasakit Center doon. Inyo itong Malasakit Center at para ito sa poor and indigent patients itong Malasakit Center at para ito sa Pilipino. Zero balance ang target nitong Malasakit Center, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center,” he added.

There are now a total of 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide that have helped over three million Filipinos.

To help further accelerate the development and create more economic opportunities in the island city, the senator has likewise supported the water system projects in Barangays 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.

He also supported the construction of additional roads in the city, including the road from Crossing Toril, Babak to Barangay Sto. Niño, Babak District; the road from San Agustin Elementary School to Maximo Arellano Elementary School, Brgy. Sto. Niño, Babak District; and the road at Port of Barangay Sta. Cruz to Barangay Linosutan, Talicud Island, Kaputian District.

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.

“Mahal namin kayo. Tandaan ninyo itong aking sasabihin. Tatagalugin ko na lang para maintindihan niyo lahat. Minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung anuman pong kabutihan o tulong na puwede natin gawin sa ating kapwa, gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” remarked Go.

“Kami ni Presidente Duterte, patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil kami po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos, serbisyo po ‘yan kay Allah,” he stressed.

Concluding his message, Go lauded the local government officials for their hard work and commitment to serve their constituents amid the global health crisis.

Last April 22, Go also personally visited and led the distribution activities for more than 2,000 Samaleños in Brgys. Limao, San Miguel and Mambago-A.