SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has stepped forward to offer assistance to the bereaved family of Irish Apollo and Prince Dumdum, who are grappling with the tragic loss of the two children in an unfortunate series of events, in Barangay Bagumbayan, Lupon, Davao Oriental.
The mother, Shiela Dumdum, and the rest of the Apollo-Dumdum family faced an unimaginable turn of events that led to the loss of their youngest member, Prince, and, subsequently, their daughter, Irish.
On the day of the tragedy, March 15, the parents and the oldest were away working, entrusting the care of their children to 12-year-old Irish. The family’s routine took a catastrophic turn when Irish momentarily left to fetch water from a nearby well, leaving her younger siblings unattended. In her absence, a friend coaxed one of the children to join them for fishing, inadvertently leaving the door open.
This oversight allowed one-year-old Prince to crawl towards the door, leading him directly to a nearby irrigation canal—the sequence of events culminated in the discovery of Prince floating in the water.
Shattered by the incident and overwhelmed by guilt, Irish took her own life, deepening the tragedy for the Dumdum family.
In response to this devastating situation, Senator Bong Go expressed profound condolences and provided financial assistance and grocery packs through his Malasakit Team on Tuesday, March 19. Acknowledging the depth of their loss, Senator Go emphasized his readiness to help the family in his own personal capacity.
“Sa oras ng inyong pangangailangan, nais kong ipaalam sa inyo na handa akong magbigay ng anumang suporta at tulong na maari kong maibahagi sa abot ng aking makakaya. Ang inyong pamilya ay hindi nag-iisa sa pagharap sa sakit na dulot ng trahedyang ito. Tayo ay magtutulungan at magkakasama sa pagbangon mula sa malungkot na yugtong ito ng inyong buhay,” Go expressed.
Further broadening his advocacy, Senator Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has pledged to bolster mental health programs, particularly emphasizing suicide prevention awareness.
This commitment is reflected in Senate Bill No. 2598, the SUCs Mental Health Services Act, which he is one of the authors. If enacted into law, this aims to fortify mental health services across State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines, establishing dedicated Mental Health Offices on every campus.
The proposed legislative measure includes targeted awareness campaigns focusing on suicide prevention, stress management, mental health awareness, and nutritional guidance, aiming to nurture a more informed and supportive community.
“I will continue to advocate for measures that will strengthen and protect every Filipino’s physical and mental health,” he said previously.
