Go provides aid to Samal residents

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go returned to the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte on Friday to personally distribute assistance in impoverished barangays such as Dadatan, Cogon and Linosutan.

After distributing aid to vulnerable sectors in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Go proceeded to Barangay Dadatan, where he and his team handed out grocery packs, meals, face masks and vitamins to 1,065 indigents.

Select individuals were given bicycles, phablets, shoes and watches.

As an advocate of sports development and chairman of the Senate sports committee, Go distributed balls to local basketball and volleyball teams.

In a speech, Go recognized the beneficiaries – which included fishermen, farmers, solo parents and senior citizens – for their hard work and contributions to the country.

In a separate distribution activity in the area, the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial assistance to the residents while the Department of Agriculture committed to provide local fishermen with boats.

Go advised them to visit the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City or the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City for their medical needs.

He said these hospitals have Malasakit Centers that are ready to assist them.

With 151 operational centers nationwide, the Malasakit Centers has so far assisted more than three million Filipinos

The center brings together concerned government agencies such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, whose tasks are to assist poor and indigent patients with their medical expenses.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act.

He advised residnets to have themselves vaccinated against COVID.

To further boost the development of Samal Island, Go supported multiple infrastructure projects and other initiatives in the island city to make life comfortable for the residents.