Bong Go visits Samal to address concerns of struggling communities amid pandemic and other crisis situations

ON Wednesday, May 11, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go visited the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte to personally lead the relief efforts for a total of 1,763 struggling residents in Barangays Aundanao, Licup and Tagdaliao.

In his remarks, Go expressed his appreciation for the Samaleños and reaffirmed his continuing commitment to support them even amid the pandemic and other crisis situations.

“Masaya ako dahil ito na ang ika-31 na barangay na napuntahan ko dito sa Samal. Mahal ko kayo dito sa Samal, matagal na akong pumupunta dito sa Samal, noon pa,” he added.

The distributions were held at the respective covered courts of the said barangays where Go and his outreach team handed out relief items, including masks, grocery packs, vitamins, shirts and meals.

Go also provided select residents with shoes and tablets as well as bicycles for their commuting needs.

In a separate distribution, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial aid to qualified residents through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

In line with his commitment to prioritize the health and well-being of Filipinos, Senator Go, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also reminded the beneficiaries that there are Malasakit Centers at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City ready to assist them with their medical needs.

The Malasakit Center program is a brainchild of Go. It was initiated in 2018 and later institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which the senator primarily authored and sponsored. The center is a one-stop shop designed to assist poor and indigent patients with their medical expenses by bringing together all relevant agencies that offer medical assistance programs, including the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“At ano ba itong Malasakit Center, one-stop shop ito at batas na itong isinulong ko na pinirmahan ni Presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte at nasa loob na ng isang ospital ang Philhealth, PCSO, DOH at DSWD. Para ito sa mga poor indigent patients. Tutulungan kayo hanggang sa maging zero balance at wala na kayong babayaran sa inyong pagpapaospital,” explained the senator.

“Magsabi lang kayo at hanapin niyo lang ang karatula na Malasakit Center. Mayroong Malasakit Center kahit saan, sa Tagum, mayroong Davao Regional Medical Center, mayroong Malasakit at hanapin niyo lang ang karatula. Sa Davao, SPMC may building diyan ang Malasakit Center at para ito sa mga Pilipino at kasangga niyo ito at tutulungan kayo ng Malasakit Center. Kung hindi niyo naman mahanap, magsabi lang kayo,” he added.

To date, there are 151 operational Malasakit Centers nationwide.

The senator also urged those qualified yet unvaccinated residents to get their jabs against COVID-19. He stressed that getting vaccinated better protects them from severe symptoms of the virus and significantly helps hasten the country’s return to normalcy.

The senator then acknowledged the hard work of all the officials of the island city, especially during these challenging times.

To boost the development of Samal Island, the senator has likewise supported the water system project in Brgys. Pangubatan, Libertad and 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 likewise supported the construction of several roads, including the road from Crossing Toril, Babak to Brgy. 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 the Port of Brgy. Sta. Cruz to Brgy. Linosutan, Talicud Island, Kaputian District.

Other initiatives he supported in the province are the rechanneling of a river, 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.

“Kami ni Presidente Duterte, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat, maging presidente man siya, maging senador ako o maging barangay captain na lang ako, patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo. Dahil para sa amin, ang serbisyo sa kapwa ay serbisyo ‘yan sa ating Panginoon,” Go ended.

On May 5, Go also personally visited the island and provided similar assistance to 1,900 Samaleños. On May 10, his team likewise assisted 452 Samaleños from Brgys. Del Monte, Cawag and San Jose.