SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go personally visited the ravaged parts of Buguey and Santa Teresita, Cagayan province on Monday to give hope, comfort, and aid to the victims of Typhoon Maring.

In a speech during the activities, Go called on Filipinos to stand in unity, saying that the country is facing various converging crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. He pledged his continued support for the province whose people are still recovering from other recent calamities.

“Uulitin ko lang po, mawalang galang na po sa inyong lahat. Huwag ho kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Kami po ang magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo po kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo,” Go said.

He also assured the community that the government is doing everything it can to extend the appropriate assistance to expedite their recovery.

“Ngayon, hinding-hindi po namin sasayangin ito. Itong pagkakataon na ito na ibinigay n’yo po sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte – mga probinsyano lang po kami. Si Pangulong Duterte isa po siyang mayor sa Davao na ginawang presidente. Ako naman po, 23 years na nagtatrabaho po sa kanya bilang staff n’ya po at naging special assistant, naging secretary po sa kanya noong 2016, ginawa n’yo pong senador,” he explained.

“Wala na po kaming hihilingin pa sa Panginoon, ibinigay na po Niya lahat sa amin. Kaya ibabalik po namin sa inyo ‘yung serbisyo pong para sa inyo po. Magseserbisyo kami sa inyo,” he added further.

Go explained that despite his vice presidential bid, he remains focused on his duties as a senator and public servant, especially in assisting the government and the general public in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ayaw ko munang pag-usapan ‘yung pulitika ngayon… dalawa ang tumama sa atin dito sa Cagayan. Gusto kong unahin muna natin malampasan ang pandemyang ito at iba pang krisis na ating hinaharap,” said Go.

“Noong naging senador po ako pangako ko po kahit saang sulok kayo ng Pilipinas pupuntahan ko po kayo. Ma-Batanes, ma-Apari hanggang Jolo pupuntahan ko po basta kaya lang po ng aking katawan at ng aking oras. Pangako namin ‘yan sa inyo ni Pangulong Duterte – walang masasayang na oras pagdating sa serbisyo,” he assured.

The senator and his team handed out meals, food packs, vitamins, masks, and face shields to 600 typhoon victims, with thousands more to be assisted in the coming days.

The activities were carried out in batches at the Buguey and Santa Teresita municipal gymnasiums in strict observance of the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

The senator, who is Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, also reminded the public to keep taking precautions even if they are fully vaccinated.

“Tingnan niyo. Pababa na ang mga kaso sa Metro Manila kasi marami na ang bakunado. Nasa datos naman na ‘yung mga positibo ngayon, sila ay ‘yung hindi nagpabakuna, ‘yung nag-aantay at nagsasabi na mamaya na sila. Huwag niyo na antayin na kayo’y abutan at nakakamatay ang virus na ito,” warned Go.

“Ngayon, mayroon ng mahigit na 90 million doses ng bakuna ang dumating sa ating bansa. Mahigit 24 million na Pilipino na ang fully vaccinated. Tuloy-tuloy lang ang programang ito hanggang makamtan natin ang population protection leading to herd immunity,” he continued.

Following his visit to the Typhoon Maring victims in Buguey and Santa Teresita, Cagayan province, Senator Go visited the Malasakit Center in Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City.

“Wala pong pinipili ang Malasakit Center. Ang Malasakit Center po’y para sa Pilipino na handang tumulong sa inyo hanggang maging zero balance ang inyong billing. Iyan po ang layunin ng Malasakit Center – tulungan po ‘yung mga mahihirap at huwag na po silang pahirapan pa. Ibigay sa kanila ‘yung mabilis na serbisyo,” said Go in an interview.

In his speech, Go recognized medical frontliners for their sacrifices. He also vowed to protect the welfare of health workers by pushing for a bill he authored and co-sponsored, Senate Bill No. 2421, which shall provide continuing and more inclusive COVID-19 benefits and allowances to public and private health workers during the state of public health emergency.

“Kung mayroon man tayong pasasalamatan sa panahon po ngayon, sa lahat po ng ating mga doctors, nurses, frontliners, maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo sa panahon ngayon. Mula sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte, sa mga frontliners, kasama na po ‘yung utility workers, security guards, lahat ng mga frontliners, maraming salamat po sa inyong serbisyo,” Go began.

“Kaya nga po ako, bilang Committee Chair on Health ninyo sa Senado, ipaglalaban ko po lahat ang kapakanan ninyo – ang SRA ninyo, lahat ng incentives dapat ibigay po sa inyo,” he continued.