To celebrate the season of hope and giving, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go personally visited Brgy. Vicente Hizon Sr. in Davao City on Tuesday (Dec. 21) to listen to the concerns and check on the situation of its most vulnerable residents.
In a message during the distribution activity, Go reassured Filipinos that the Duterte administration is steadfast in its commitment to provide them all the support they need to get through these distressing times.
“Nakita natin ngayong panahon na talagang suwerte tayo dito sa Davao City… Nandidiyan pa ang COVID at mayroon pang bagyo. Kahapon galing kami sa Negros Occidental. Noong isang araw sa Siargao, Cebu, at Bohol,” Go said.
“Nandito tayo sa krisis at magpa-Pasko na. Masaya lang ako dahil tumatawa kayo. Sana maging masaya ang ating Pasko at maging safe tayong lahat. Patuloy tayong magtulungan, magmalasakit, at magbigayan. Basta nagkakaisa tayo, malalampasan din natin ang mga krisis na ito,” he said.
The senator and his team distributed meals, food packs, vitamins, and masks to a total of 500 solo parents, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities at the Fortune Executives Gym. The activities were carried out in batches to ensure that all health and safety protocols against COVID-19 were strictly observed.
Select individuals were also given new pairs of shoes or bicycles for their daily traveling needs, while others were provided with computer tablets to help their children with their blended learning activities.
As part of the ongoing efforts by the government to assist individuals in crisis situations, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed financial assistance. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, on the other hand, evaluated potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.
Continuing his message, Go recognized the sacrifices of solo parents, many of whom were forced out of work or had to cut back hours because of the pandemic. He pushed for the passage of a bill which will amend the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000 and allow the government to provide more support to single-parent households.
“Hindi biro ang magpalaki ng anak ng solo lang tayo, pero ang importante kasama natin sila, hindi ba? Mas masaya at masarap ito sa pakiramdam. Kaya kahit nasaan kayo sa Pilipinas, talagang tumutulong ako at sinasama ko ang mga solo parents,” Go said.
Filed in 2020, Senate Bill No. 1411, which Go co-authored and co-sponsored, mandates the development of a comprehensive package of social protection services for solo parents and their children that will include livelihood opportunities and counseling services.
All employed solo parents will also be qualified to a seven-day parental leave with pay. The measure has already passed the third and final reading in the Senate earlier this month.
To enable them to return to work safely, the senator further urged parents and other eligible residents to get their COVID-19 shots. He reiterated the need to fast-track the vaccination of as many qualified Filipinos as possible to finally attain herd immunity and return to normalcy.
“Tulungan niyo kami ni Pangulong Duterte. Alam ko nahirapan na kayo pero kailangan namin ang tulong ninyo, lalo na ng mga Dabawenyo. Tulungan niyo kami makamtan itong herd immunity, kung saan hindi na kakalat itong sakit na COVID-19 para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa normal natin na pamumuhay,” appealed Go.
“Huwag muna tayong magkumpiyansa. Sumunod kayo sa paalala ng gobyerno kung ayaw niyo maging-istrikto at magsara na naman ang ekonomiya,” he added.
To help ensure sick and infirm residents’ convenient access to quality medical care, the senator offered them additional assistance. He also strongly advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in the city where they can conveniently avail of government aid for their health expenses.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The law brings together under one roof the relevant agencies offering medical assistance programs to poor and indigent patients, namely the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The Malasakit Center aims to reduce a hospital bill to the lowest amount possible by covering various patient services and expenses including laboratories, medicines, and surgeries.
“Kapag may problema kayo na kaya namin bigyan ng solusyon, huwag kayong mahiyang lumapit sa amin. Kung may mga pasyente na kailangang operahan, ‘wag kayong malungkot sa babayarin sa ospital. Mayroon na tayong 149 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na tutulong para maging ‘zero balance’ billing ninyo,” reassured Go.
“Kung may sakit kayo sa puso at kailangan niyong operahan sa Maynila, pumunta lang kayo sa aming opisina at kami na ang magbabayad sa mga gastusin hanggang makabalik kayo ng Davao,” he continued.
The lawmaker proceeded to recognize and thank Mayor Sara Duterte, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Board Member Che-Che Justol, Vicente Hizon Sr. Punong Barangay Erico Talili, and other local officials for working together to keep their communities safe.
As vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported numerous initiatives to enhance the infrastructure in the city and improve the living standards of his fellow Davaoeños.
These include the construction or rehabilitation of multipurpose buildings and local roads in different barangays around the city, as well as the Philippine Red Cross Regional Office at the SPMC, Paquibato District Hall, and Hope Day Care Center.
Other initiatives are the construction of water systems in Barangays Acacia, Fatima, Mabuhay and San Isidro; construction or widening of drainage canals in Barangays Bunawan Proper and Mintal; construction or rehabilitation of drainage systems in Barangays Centro, Mudiang, and Ubalde; construction of flood control structures in Barangay 9-A and at Datu Loho Creek; and construction of a new infectious diseases building and purchase of ambulances for the SPMC.
On Dec. 20, Go also led the distribution of aid to 2,000 vulnerable residents, composed of solo parents and fisherfolk, in Brgy. Panacan. Similar activities were simultaneously conducted in Barangays Aquino, Duterte, and Tibungco. (Office of SBG) – jlo
