SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go‘s Malasakit Team provided necessary assistance to fire victims from Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, and San Lorenzo in Guimaras on Friday, April 12.
In his video message, Go expressed his gratitude towards the local officials, including Congresswoman Lucille Nava, Governor Joaquin Carlos “JC” Rahman Nava, Vice Governor Edward Gando, Buenavista Mayor Samuel Gumarin, Jordan Mayor Cresente “Toto” Chavez, Nueva Valencia Mayor Paul Dela Cruz, and San Lorenzo Mayor Ninfa Gajo, among others, for working hand-in-hand to help the affected families.
“Si Senator Bong Go malapit na ito sa akin (at sa) puso natin. Kahit last year pumunta dito si Senator Bong Go para bumisita sa probinsya ng Guimaras. Kahit linggo, si Senator Bong Go nagbibigay ng needs natin dito sa probinsya ng Guimaras kaya palakpakan natin si Senator Bong Go,” Vice Governor Gando cited in a short speech during the relief operation.
The 56 affected families gathered at the Guimaras Provincial Capitol Gymnasium in Jordan, where Go’s Malasakit Team distributed grocery packs, snacks, masks, and balls for basketball and volleyball. They also gave away shoes and a mobile phone to select recipients.
Meanwhile, representatives from the National Housing Authority, through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), likewise extended necessary housing assistance to help the victims rebuild their homes through Go’s initiative.
“Mga kababayan, nandirito rin ang ating NHA para sa programang EHAP. Bibigyan kayo ng pambili ng housing materials tulad ng pako, yero at iba pa. Ito yung programa na matagal ko nang isinulong para patuloy na matulungan ang mga nasunugan, nabahaan, at nasira na mga bahay para makapagtayo ulit at makapag-umpisa ulit,” said Go.
“Itong programang EHAP, kapag nabigay na sainyo ang tulong, mayroon lang akong pakiusap sa inyo, ibili ninyo ng gamit pampaayos ng inyong bahay bilang iyon ang layunin ng programang ito,” he stressed.
Senator Go has been actively promoting Senate Bill No. 188, which calls for creating the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). This proposed legislation aims to centralize and streamline disaster management efforts nationwide, focusing on three key aspects: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.
The creation of the DDR is envisioned to lead to more coordinated and efficient disaster management, ensuring that the government’s response to natural disasters is swift, effective, and comprehensive. By consolidating the responsibilities related to disaster resilience under a single department, the bill aims to enhance the nation’s ability to withstand and recover from the adverse effects of calamities.
To further help the province, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported road improvements in Buenavista and Nueva Valencia. He also supported the acquisition of a dump truck, constructing a multipurpose building, and improvements for Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital (Dr. CGNPH), all in Jordan.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go urged individuals with health concerns to seek assistance from the Malasakit Center at Dr. CGNPH, which is intended to help impoverished patients with their healthcare costs in accordance with the Malasakit Centers Act principally authored and sponsored by Go in the Senate. These centers aim to conveniently aid indigent patients by covering various medical services and charges on their hospital bills.
Currently, there are 162 Malasakit Centers spread across the country. Since the inception of the first center in 2018, these facilities have benefited over ten million Filipinos nationwide, as reported by DOH.
