As he continues to push for passage of mandatory evac centers bill

UNDERSCORING the vulnerability of the Philippines to natural disasters, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call to establish clean and safe evacuation centers nationwide to make certain that calamity victims are comfortable as they recover.

The senator’s team visited Tinio, Nueva Ecija on Monday, November 28, and provided assistance to 500 Typhoon Karding victims.

In his video message, Go lamented how many Filipinos displaced by disasters have no choice but to stay at makeshift temporary shelters or schools due to the lack of proper, safe and equipped evacuation centers across the country.

For this reason, Go renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 193, or his proposed Mandatory Evacuation Centers Act, saying, “Isa po sa mga isinusulong ko ang pagkakaroon ng malinis at ligtas na evacuation center sa mga probinsya. Itong mga centers na ito ay dapat mayro’n sapat na mga emergency packs, katulad ng blankets, tubig, gamot, flashlight, at ready na relief goods. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na palaging maging handa sa oras ng sakuna.”

“Dahil sa tag-ulan, apektado na naman ang mga mabababang lugar at marami ang biktima ng pagbaha. Para hindi na maulit pa, mag-focus muna tayo sa prevention. Malaki ang epekto ng malinis na kapaligiran para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng sakit,” he continued.

Go’s personnel distributed snacks, umbrellas, shirts, and masks to 500 typhoon victims. They also gave away bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.

As part of the government’s efforts to help the victims recover, the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided separate financial assistance.

Continuing his message, Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered additional help to those in need of hospital care. He informed the beneficiaries that they may seek the services of the Malasakit Centers at Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Hospital and at Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRMC), both in Cabanatuan City, and at Talavera General Hospital.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which houses the offices of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Its primary aim is to help reduce a hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various patient services and expenses, such as surgeries, laboratories and medicines.

Go principally authored and sponsored the Republic Act No. 11463, institutionalizing the Malasakit Centers program. There are now 153 Malasakit Centers that have helped millions of Filipinos nationwide.

An adopted son of Nueva Ecija, Go also sponsored a measure in the Senate which aims to increase the bed capacity of Dr. PJGMRMC from 400 to 1,000 beds.

He likewise supported the construction of Super Health Centers in Barangay Camp Tinio, Cabanatuan City, and in the towns of Rizal, San Leonardo, and Sto. Domingo.

The Super Health Centers will be strategically placed in rural areas to ensure that indigent patients would not need to travel far to get the medical attention they need. The centers offer database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Moreover, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported several projects in the province, such as the rehabilitation of roads in Cabiao, General Tinio, Pantabangan, Zaragoza and Cabanatuan City; construction of flood mitigation structures in General Tinio, San Antonio and Zaragoza; construction of multipurpose buildings in Gabaldon, Sta. Rosa and Cabanatuan City; reconstruction of the Llanera public market; rehabilitation of the Baloc public market; and installation of streetlights in Zaragoza.

“Nakikusap po ako sa inyo na suportahan niyo lang po ang gobyerno at ako naman po ay patuloy na tutulong sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Lagi po tayong magtulungan at magmalasakit para sabay sabay po tayong makaahon mula sa krisis na ito,” Go ended.

Last November 17, Go’s outreach team also provided assistance to indigents in the town of Sta. Rosa.