Team extends aid to fire, typhoon victims in CDO

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go urged authorities to raise awareness on disaster safety and preparedness as his team conducted a relief effort for fire and typhoon victims in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

In a video message, Go vowed to continue pushing for more safety measures to protect Filipinos in the event of a disaster, including his proposed Senate Bill No. 1228, which provides for the establishment of a mandatory evacuation center in every municipality, city, and province.

“Nakita naman natin ang matinding pangangailangan para sa mga istrukturang ito na magsisilbing panandaliang tahanan ng mga Pilipino sa tuwing may bagyo o anumang natural disaster. Huwag nating antayin na may panibagong sakuna pang dumating. Umaksyon na tayo dapat para maprotektahan lalo ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” said Go.

His team provided meals, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 129 victims at the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs Building in Barangay 40. They also provided each fire victim with financial assistance.

Selected victims received new pairs of shoes while some received bicycles so they can travel with ease while public transportation remains limited. Others received computer tablets to help students cope with the blended learning set-up implemented by schools.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go also reminded everyone to prioritize their health concerns and offered to help those seeking medical care. He encouraged them to seek aid from his office or avail further support from the government at the Malasakit Center at the J.R. Borja General Hospital or the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in the city.

The center is a one-stop shop which caters to patients seeking to avail medical assistance from the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

There are currently 143 Malasakit Centers nationwide and have benefited over three million Filipino patients, as of writing. The program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 114631 which Go principally authored and sponsored the Senate.

As part of a set of interventions by the government, personnel from the DSWD also provided separate financial assistance, as well as sleeping and hygiene kits, to each victim. The DOH handed out more vitamins and medicines and the Department of Agriculture gave away seedlings in separate distributions.

Moreover, the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and National Housing Authority also conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.

The senator ended his message thanking Deputy Speaker 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, 1st District Representative Rolando Uy, Mayor Oscar Moreno, Vice Mayor Raineir Uy and other local officials for their fast response to the disasters.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported various initiatives to improve the delivery of public services and spur development in Misamis Oriental. They include the construction of multi-purpose buildings and acquisition of an ambulance for the city government of Cagayan de Oro.

Other major initiatives include the rehabilitation of roads in Alubijid, Baliangao, Balingasag, Balingoan, Initao, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Libertad, Lugait, Magsaysay, Manticao and El Salvador City; construction of water systems in Balingasag and Jasaan; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Initao, Magsaysay and Gingoog City; and construction of flood control structures in Magsaysay, Medina and Gingoog City.

He also supported the construction of a public market in Manticao; development of the public plaza in Lugait; and acquisition of ambulance units for the local governments of Balingoan, Kinoguitan, Libertad and Lugait.

The previous day, October 14, Go’s team also extended aid to hog farmers affected by African swine fever in Alubijid. All beneficiaries were divided into small batches to ensure all health and safety protocols were strictly observed throughout the activities.

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Bong Go provides add’l support for more than 10,000 indigent residents in Lanao del Sur

AS the government approved the opening of the national vaccination program to the general population, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to qualified Filipinos to get vaccinated immediately to protect themselves from the threats of COVID-19.

In a video message in a series of aid activities for Lanao del Sur residents from October 13 to 17, Go appealed to the public to trust the vaccination efforts in order to reach herd immunity soon toward the country’s eventual return to normalcy.

“Mga kababayan ko, unti-unti na pong dumarating ang mga bakuna. Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna. ‘Pag nasa priority list na ho kayo, magpabakuna na po kayo para po protektado kayo at ang inyong pamilya,” said Go.

“Nasa datos naman po, ‘pag kayo po ay bakunado, mas protektado po kayo sa pagkasakit ng COVID-19 o ito pong grabeng pagkasakit ng COVID-19 at maiwasan po ang pagkamatay ‘pag kayo po ay protektado. Ang bakuna lamang ang tanging susi o solusyon sa ngayon upang unti-unti tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay.

“Ang atin pong gustong makamit ngayong taong ito ay population protection kapag 50% na po ang nabakunahan at herd immunity naman po kapag 70% na po ang bakunado sa inyong komunidad,” he added.

The senator’s team provided meals, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 10,086 residents from Buadipuso, Mulondo, Romain, Poona Bayabao, Maguing, Taraka, Masiu, Piagapo, Balindong, Marantao, Saguiaran, Malabang, Picong, Binidayan, Lumbatan, Ganassi, Madamba, Tugaya, Pualas, and Marawi City.

The distribution was held in batches to comply with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

Selected residents received bicycles for commuting and computer tablets for children’s blended learning experience.

To mitigate the impact of the pandemic on families, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided each beneficiary with financial assistance.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, the senator offered to assist those in urgent need of medical care. He informed them that they may conveniently avail of medical assistance through the Malasakit Center located at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

The Malasakit Centers program, which Go first launched in 2018 and was enacted into law in 2019 through a bill he authored and sponsored in the Senate, aims to improve the delivery of medical assistance to the poor and indigent by bringing together the relevant agencies under one roof. The agencies include the DOH, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Ending his remarks, Go recognized the leadership and hard work of local leaders in ensuring the welfare of their constituents.

“Salamat po kay Kapitan. Salamat po sa mga kagawad. Salamat po sa mga SK members. Salamat po sa mga frontliners. Salamat po sa mga pulis, sa mga sundalo at sa mga bumbero. Salamat po sa inyong tulong sa panahong ito. Huwag niyo pong pabayaan ang ating mga kababayang mahihirap po,” he said.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the senator earlier supported the construction of barangay roads in Bacolod-Kalawi.

He also supported that construction of multi-purpose buildings in Balabagan, Butig, Ganassi, Kapatagan, Lumbaca Unayan, Malabang, Masiu, and Ditsaan-Ramain; the construction of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Marantao; and the construction of evacuation centers in Ganassi and Buadiposo-Buntong.

“Mga kababayan ko, kaunting tiis lang po at ingat tayo parati at magdasal tayo parati. At tandaan niyo po, minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na puwede natin gawin sa ating kapwa Pilipino ay gawin na po natin ngayon, dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” Go said.

“Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay patuloy na magseserbisyo po sa inyong lahat dahil para sa amin po, ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos,” he added.