The office of Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go picked up its relief efforts in Laguna on Tuesday (Dec. 7) with staff members distributing additional aid to 1,000 residents who suffered damages when Typhoon Jolina struck Biñan City last September.
Go’s team distributed meals, food packs, and masks to the typhoon victims in batches at the Biñan Football Stadium while observing the government-issued protocols against COVID-19. They gave selected recipients new pairs of shoes or bicycles for commuting and computer tablets for their children’s blended learning activities.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also extended financial assistance as part of the government’s disaster response.
Noting how vulnerable the country is to natural disasters due to its geographic location, Go reiterated his appeal for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1228 or the Mandatory Evacuation Center Act which he filed in 2019.
The measure aims to establish safe, permanent, and dedicated evacuation centers in every city, province, and municipality in the country. The mandatory evacuation centers will be fully-equipped to provide immediate aid to calamity and disaster victims.
“When disaster strikes, Filipinos, especially ‘yung mga underprivileged, suffer the most. 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,” said Go in a video message.
“Huwag na nating hintayin na may panibagong sakuna pang dumating. Umaksiyon na tayo ngayon upang maprotektahan lalo ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.
To ensure that the health of the typhoon victims are properly looked after, Go offered additional assistance to those with medical concerns. He encouraged them to obtain further aid from the government through the Malasakit Centers at the San Pablo City General Hospital or the Laguna Medical Center in Santa Cruz.
The Malasakit Center brings together under one roof the relevant agencies for medical assistance, namely the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to provide Filipino patients convenient access to their respective medical assistance programs.
The Center’s primary aim is to help reduce a patient’s hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various patient services and expenses. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the bill that became Republic Act No. 11463, the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
Ending his message, the senator thanked the local officials for their quick response during and after the typhoon. Among them are Deputy Speaker and Lone District Rep. Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat, Gov. Ramil Hernandez, Vice Gov. Katherine Agapay, Board Member Abigael Alonte, Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr., and Vice Mayor Angelo Alonte.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and an adopted son of the Calabarzon region, Go has supported various initiatives in the city, such as the improvement of the drainage system in Brgy. Canlalay and concreting of the local access road in Brgy. Santo Niño.
For the province, he also supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Cavinti, Liliw, Lumban, Majayjay, Pagsanjan, Pila, Santa Cruz, and Santa Maria; construction of slaughterhouses in Mabitac, Nagcarlan, and Pagsanjan; construction of public markets in Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pagsanjan, and Rizal; construction of a farm-to-market road and a multipurpose covered court in Paete; construction of a drainage canal in Cabuyao City; repair of the primary road inside Fort Sto. Domingo in Santa Rosa City; and installation of street lights in Lumban and Magdalena.
Similar relief efforts were earlier conducted by Go’s team for thousands of typhoon victims in Biñan City on Sept. 10 and Nov. 10, 17, and 20. (Office of SBG) – jlo
