SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go visited and provided assistance to fire victims in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, on Thursday,

This visit underlines his commitment to extending help to Filipinos throughout the archipelago, emphasizing that geographical barriers do not hinder his service to those in need of compassionate service.

“Alam n’yo, iyan po ang aking ipinangako sa inyo. Kahit saang sulok kayo ng Pilipinas, pupuntahan ko kayo basta kaya po ng aking katawan at panahon. Umabot na po ako ng Batanes at Aparri hanggang Jolo at Tawi-Tawi,” said Go in his speech.

“Inabutan din tayo ng lindol, putok ng bulkan, buhawi, bagyo, baha, sunog… pinupuntahan ng opisina ko ‘yan para makatulong sa abot ng aming makakaya, makapagsulong ng mga proyekto’t programang magpapaunlad sa lugar, mapakinggan ang mga hinaing, at makapag-iwan ng ngiti sa oras ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” he added.

Go, and his Malasakit Team provided essential aid to 331 fire victims, including snacks, grocery packs, shirts, vitamins, and balls for basketball and volleyball at a gymnasium in Bongao. They also gave away shoes, a bicycle, a mobile phone, and a watch to select recipients.

At the same time, through Go’s advocacy of helping crisis-hit communities rebuild and recover, the National Housing Authority provided emergency housing assistance to qualified beneficiaries.

“Isinulong natin ang programang EHAP noon at patuloy ko itong sinusuportahan ngayon upang matulungan ang mga biktima ng bagyo, sunog o anumang sakuna, na makabili ng materyales para sa bahay tulad ng yero, pako, semento, at iba pang kagamitan,” he explained.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also made medical assistance more accessible in Tawi-Tawi through the Malasakit Center located at Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital in the town, which he visited on the same day and provided meals to patients and health workers as well as other forms of aid such as bikes and shoes to some frontliners.

Currently, 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide seek to ensure that underprivileged Filipinos have convenient access to medical assistance programs from the government. Institutionalized under RA 11463, which Go principally sponsored and authored, these Malasakit Centers have already helped around ten million Filipinos nationwide according to DOH.

To bring primary health services, medical consultations and early disease detection to grassroots communities such as Tawi-Tawi, Go also advocated for the establishment of more Super Health Centers nationwide.

Go’s visit included a stop at the provincial capitol, where he had lunch with Governor Yshmael Sali and other officials. During this visit, a Plaque of Appreciation was awarded to him in sincere gratitude and recognition of his dedicated and compassionate service to the island, its people, and the whole country.

The award also highlights his efforts in promoting peace and development among the Filipino people, including the peace-loving Bangsamoro of Tawi-Tawi.

In his message, Governor Sali expressed his profound gratitude for the senator’s tangible demonstration of ‘malasakit’ towards the people of Tawi-Tawi. “Senator Bong Go, maraming, maraming salamat sa tunay na malasakit sa Pilipino dahil damang dama namin sa Tawi-Tawi. Kahit pinakamalayo, nandito ka pa rin. ‘Yung sinasabi mo na ang bisyo mo ay magserbisyo, nararamdaman namin,” Governor Sali expressed.

He further emphasized the uniqueness of Go’s dedication, remarking on the depth of his compassion, which transcends mere words.