Bong Go helps Samal residents

MANILA, Philippines — Even during the Holy Week, Sen. Bon Go went to the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte to oversee the relief efforts for 1,500 struggling residents in Barangays San Agustin, Mambago B and Kinawitnon.

Go led the distribution of masks, grocery packs, vitamins, shirts and meals. Some select residents were provided with shoes, phablets and bicycles for their commuting needs.

These are aside from the financial aid the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave to qualified residents through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Go expressed his gratitude to local leaders and repeated his resolve to continue supporting the Samaleños, especially in the face of the pandemic and other crises.

Go, Senate committee on health and demography chairman, reminded residents of the Malasakit Centers at Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City to assist them with their medical needs.

The Malasakit Center – his brainchild that was institutionalized in 2019 – is a one-stop shop designed to assist poor and indigent patients with their medical expenses. It gathers the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corp.  and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under one room to eliminate the need of the needy to go from office to office to seek financial help.

“We now have 151 Malasakit Centers throughout the country. It has become a law to provide a fast and orderly medical service for Filipinos…the PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD are housed in one room to help you achieve a zero balance in your hospital bills,” Go told them.

Aside from giving the aid, he urged Samal residents who are qualified but remain unvaccinated to get their jabs against COVID-19. He explained that the vaccine gives them better protection against severe symptoms of the coronavirus and helps hasten the country’s return to normalcy.

Go said the country has 244 million doses of anti-COVID vaccines.

To boost the development of Samal Island, the senator supported the water system project in Barangays Pangubatan, Libertad, San Remigio, Kinawitnon and Miranda; the construction of the bypass IGACOS circumferential road and the construction of a two-story multipurpose building and farm-to-market road in Brgy. Tambo.

He also supported the construction of several roads in the province, including the road from Crossing Toril to Barangay Sto. Niño in Babak District and the road from San Agustin elementary school to Maximo Arellano elementary school also in Babak District; and the road at Port of Barangay Sta. Cruz to Barangay Linosutan at Talicud Island, Kaputian District.

The other initiatives he supported in the province are the 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 a 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.

Earlier this month, Go and his team visited and provided similar assistance to more residents from Barangays Balet, Camudmud, San Isidro, Cogon, Libuak, Tambo, Miranda, Villarica and Tagpopongan.