COMMITTED to protect the welfare of Filipinos amid disasters, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, together with Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla, promptly responded to the needs of the recent earthquake victims in Bangued and Lagangilang, Abra on Sunday, July 31.

Last July 27, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Luzon and adjacent areas including Metro Manila. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, its epicenter is located in the town of Tayum in Abra.

Before personally leading two separate relief operations for the affected families, Go and Padilla inspected the quake-hit areas in Barangay Sta. Rosa in Bangued.

“Bagamat kaunti lang po itong tulong naming personal sa inyo (ang) importante po ay makaahon tayo dito sa krisis (at) sa sakuna. Magtulungan lang po tayo,” the senator encouraged in his speech.

“Pinaparating din po ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ang pakikiramay sa inyo at mahal niya kayo. Kami, ni Robin, mahal namin kayo. Ang importante ay makaiwan kami ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” he continued.

Held at the Asist Gymnasium in Lagangilang and Bangued Plaza, Go and his team provided grocery packs, meals, vitamins, masks and shirts to a total of 1,692 affected residents. The senator also provided phablets and shoes to select recipients.

As part of his efforts to continue former president Duterte’s fight against illegal drugs, Go also gave away bicycles and balls for volleyball and basketball to some residents, encouraging them to engage in sports activities and stay away from vices.

“Tulungan niyo po ang ating gobyerno na huwag pong masayang yung inumpisahan ni (dating) pangulong Duterte, yung kampanya laban sa iligal na droga. Galit po si (dating) pangulong Duterte sa iligal na droga dahil nakakasira talaga ‘yan (ng buhay),” remarked Go.

“Kaya isa sa mga adbokasiya ko ngayon, kami ni Robin, ay itong sports. Get into sports and stay away from drugs. Bilang Chair of Senate Committee on Health at Sports, ipaglalaban po namin ito. Kaya po may dala po kaming bola sa inyo para hikayatin ang mga bata… Basketball tayo o volleyball, huwag lang po yung iligal na droga dahil kapag meron pong biktima ng iligal na droga sa inyong pamilya, sira na po ang buong pamilya,” he emphasized.

A team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided financial assistance to each affected household to help them rebuild their lives.

Meanwhile, as the health and well-being of the Filipino people remains his top priority, Go offered additional support to the victims in need of medical care. He encouraged them to visit any of the six Malasakit Centers in the region where they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government.

The centers are one-stop shops which streamline the process of requesting medical assistance from the relevant agencies, namely, the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. There are currently 151 Malasakit Centers that have helped more than three million patients nationwide.

“Kung mayroon pong mga pasyente na kailangan po ng tulong, halimbawa sa (Philippine) Heart Center sa Maynila (o) operasyon sa puso, magsabi lang ho kayo… kami na po ang sasagot sa Maynila, kami na po ang magpapaospital sa inyo, kami na po ang tutulong hanggang makabalik po kayo sa Abra,” assured Go.

The centers in the region are located at Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center, and Conner District Hospital, both in Apayao; Benguet General Hospital in Benguet; Bontoc General Hospital and Luis Hora Regional Memorial Hospital, both in Mountain Province; and Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in Baguio City.

In the end, Go thanked all of the local officials of Abra for courageously helping their constituents amid crisis situations. He then reaffirmed that they will continue to take necessary actions to hasten their recovery from the tragic event.

“Magtulungan lang ho tayo, huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Ang gamit po ay nabibili, ang pera po ay kikitain natin, magsikap lang tayo. Pero yung perang kikitain natin ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever, kaya wag po kayong mawalan ng pag asa,” Go expressed.

Senator Padilla likewise expressed his gratitude towards Senator Go for always being a step ahead in making certain that affected Filipinos are well-supported during disaster situations, saying, “Ako ho ay umiidolo sa isang tao, itong tao po na ito ay siya ang naglapit ng gobyerno sa tao. Ikinararangal ko po na kasama ko ngayon ang iniidolo kong senador, si Senator Bong Go. Napakalaki po ng naituro niya sa akin.”

“Dati maingay lang ako, salita nang salita, pero wala namang masyadong nagagawa ang salita. Nandito po ako ngayon na nakikiramay sa mga kababayan ko dito (at handang tumulong),” Padilla continued.

Meanwhile, Senator Go also continues to push for his twin measures to promote disaster resilience. He refiled Senate Bill No. 188 that shall establish the Department of Disaster Resilience to consolidate all essential functions of various disaster-related agencies.

He also reintroduced SBN 193, or the Mandatory Evacuation Center Bill, which will require every province, city and municipality to construct such centers that will be equipped with emergency packs, medicines and other basic necessities.

After visiting the victims in Abra, Go and his team then proceeded to provide relief to more earthquake victims in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.