Go aids quake victims in Davao Oriental

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go visited the town of Lupon in Davao Oriental on Thursday to extend assistance to residents affected by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the province last month.

In coordination with board member Don Montojo, Lupon Mayor Santos Alonzo Jr. and Vice Mayor Christian Lawrence Go, the senator and his Malasakit Team led a relief distribution activity at the town’s New Gymnasium.

Up to 1,233 beneficiaries received shirts, fans, bags, vitamins, pens, basketballs and volleyballs from the senator. Select beneficiaries received bicycles, shoes, phones and watches.

Go commended the provision of additional financial assistance from the national government to qualified beneficiaries.

“This assistance from the government will provide relief to low-income workers. I am committed to support programs intended to alleviate the plight of the poor,” Go said.

As vice chairman of the Senate committees on finance and health, Go has supported pro-poor projects in Lupon such as road improvements and construction of multipurpose buildings and health facilities.

He encouraged people with health problems to seek medical help from the Malasakit Center at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center in Mati City.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers Program.

He said there are 167 Malasakit Centers operating nationwide and ready to shoulder the medical expenses of indigents.

Go said the Malasakit Centers program has assisted more than 17 million Filipinos who have no money to pay their hospital bills.