For landslide victims: Malasakit Center to pay bills

CEBU, Philippines — The Malasakit Center program of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President Sec. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is now closely coordinating with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Naga City in assuring to shoulder hospital expenses of victims of landslide in Sitio Sindulan, Barangay Tinaan, Naga City.

This was revealed yesterday by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Micheal Lloyd Dino.

Dino said when his office received report about the landslide early in the morning of September 20, he immediately ordered the dispatch of Malasakit Center coordinator of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) to Barangay Tinaan to closely coordinate with Naga City Mayor Kristine Chiong and the first responders.

“Ang office ni Pres. Rody Duterte maninguha nga makatabang sa mga lumolupyo sa Naga City. Gisugo gyud ko sa presidente nga atimanon ang mga taga-Naga kay dili lalim ang mabiktima sa trahedya,” Dino quoted Bong Go as saying, during his initial talk with the special assistant to the president over the phone.

The coordinator, Ms. Girlie Veloso, gathered updates of figures of landslide victims as well as records of two survivors who were rushed to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) for immediate medical attention, Dino said.

“SAP Kuya Bong Go promised to shoulder all hospital expenses of the survivors who will land in the hospital,” said Dino.

 He added that Malasakit Center staff in VSMMC is conferring with the relatives of the victims. Simultaneous with the dispatch of Malasakit Center coordinator on the site, OPAV Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales joined in the first aerial flyby survey along with the officials from the Central Command, Office of the Civil Defense-7, Department of Social Welfare and Development, among others, aboard the Huey helicopter of the Philippine Air Force based in Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan Island.

 By afternoon, Bong Go’s volunteers coordinated with the OPAV in transporting relief goods donated by private charitable groups to Naga City, Dino said.

 The relief goods were distributed to the victims of the landslide who were housed in the city’s designated evacuation center in Enan Chiong Activity Center (ECAC).

Malasakit Center in-charge Veloso said that she is also coordinating with the LGU of Naga City insofar as other victims who may be needing hospitalization, given the search and rescue volunteers’ on-going operations in Sitio Sindulan. —  FPL (FREEMAN)