IN keeping with his commitment to help uplift the lives of Filipinos adversely affected by crisis situations, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, together with Senator Robinhood Padilla, visited Zamboanga City to personally spearhead a relief activity for typhoon victims.

In his speech, Go encouraged the public to remain supportive of the government’s efforts as it continues to strengthen its interventions to help mitigate the impacts of crisis situations.

“Huwag ho kayong magpasalamat sa amin ni Robin. Sa totoo lang po, kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo po kami ng pagkakataong makapagserbisyo sa inyong lahat.

Kaya hindi namin sasayangin ang pagkakataon, magseserbisyo po kami sa inyo,” he said.

“Kami ay walang kapaguran. Ako po’y sanay sa trabaho. Umaga, tanghali, hapunan, kahit panaginip puro trabaho. Pero hindi po ako napapagod ‘pag nakikita ko po kayo na masaya rin po at nakakatulong kami sa inyo,” Go expressed.

He then reassured that he continues to advocate for a more disaster-resilient nation. The senator has been pushing for the enactment of his proposed Disaster Resilience Act. Under Senate Bill No. 188, a Department of Disaster Resilience is proposed to be established to bring together all essential functions and mandates currently scattered among various disaster-related agencies.

Moreover, the bill shall also provide for the establishment of a Humanitarian Assistance Action Center, a one-stop shop for the processing and release of goods, equipment and services, in order to guarantee the timely delivery of assistance to disaster-stricken areas.

Meanwhile, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go underscored that vaccines are key to hasten the country’s return to normalcy. For this reason, Go encouraged all eligible residents to participate in the national inoculation drive, saying, “Ang importante po magpabakuna para protektado. Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay.”

In line with his priority to look after the health and well-being of the Filipino people, Go advised the beneficiaries to take advantage of the services offered in the Malasakit Center located in Zamboanga City Medical Center.

Go principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The program aims to help reduce the hospital bills of poor and indigent patients to the lowest amount possible by covering various medical services and expenses.

Apart from the Malasakit Centers, Go has also been pushing for the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country, two of which will be strategically located in the city.

In Zamboanga City, there will be Super Health Centers in Barangays Calarian and Talon-Talon.

These Super Health Centers shall provide database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine shall likewise be available.

“Bilang Committee Chair sa Health sa Senado, isusulong ko po ang mga makakatulong po to improve our healthcare system. Kaya mayro’n na po tayong 307 na mga Super Health Center na ilalagay ngayong taong ito at at least 320 naman (ang plano ng DOH) sana sa susunod na taon,” said Go.

Held at Western Mindanao State University, Go and his team provided grocery packs, vitamins, masks, meals, umbrellas and shirts to a total of 1,263 typhoon victims. They also handed out cellular phones, shoes and watches to select individuals.

In addition, Senator Go, who also heads the Senate Committee on Sports, gave away bicycles and balls for volleyball and basketball to several beneficiaries as part of his efforts to encourage more Filipinos, especially the youth, to participate in sports activities.

“Mga kababayan, ang aking adbokasiya bilang inyong Chairman sa Committee on Health and Sports sa Senado, Health – karagdagang hospital, Super Health Center… ‘Yun po ang gusto kong ipagpatuloy dahil gusto ko pong palakasin ang ating healthcare system,” Go underscored.

“At Committee Chair din po ako sa sports. Advocacy ko is (for Filipinos) to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Ipagpatuloy po natin ang kampanya ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte na labanan ang iligal na droga sa pamamaraan po na ito,” he reiterated.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development likewise extended financial assistance to each typhoon-hit household.

Go, who is also Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also supported numerous projects in the province, including the construction of a multipurpose building that will be turned into a sub-national laboratory capacity building for serology and molecular testing, construction of a children’s park and a two-story building inside Camp Navarro General Hospital.

“Kami po’y inyong public servant. Para lang tayong kapitbahay, magkapatid tayo. Kalabitin n’yo lang po kami kahit saan tayo magkita. Kami po’y tutulong sa inyo sa abot po ng aming makakaya.

Nandito po kami na handang tumulong po sa inyong lahat,” concluded Go.

Earlier that day, Go and Padilla likewise provided assistance to disadvantaged residents in Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur.