‘WALANG TIGIL NA SERBISYO LALO NA SA ORAS NG SAKUNA’ — BONG GO RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF FLOOD VICTIMS IN VARIOUS TOWNS IN DAVAO DEL NORTE

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go’s support to calamity victims in the Davao del Norte continues as he sent his Malasakit Team to provide more assistance to flood-affected residents in Carmen, Braulio E. Dujali, Santo Tomas, Kapalong, Asuncion, Tagum City, New Corella, and San Isidro on February 6 and 7.

The senator’s Malasakit Team distributed rice packs to 3,000 residents, while some also received shirts, sling bags, and balls for basketball and volleyball. The relief activities were held at their respective city and municipal halls.

Expressing his advocacy for a nation better prepared for disasters, Go emphasized the significance of pushing for the establishment of permanent evacuation centers in strategic locations nationwide to protect the lives of Filipinos.

With this, he highlighted the need for the government to enhance its disaster preparedness as he pushed for Senate Bill No. 2451, also known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers bill, primarily sponsored by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and co-sponsored by Go. Originating from the Mandatory Evacuation Center bill previously filed by Go, this proposed legislation seeks to create permanent and fully equipped evacuation centers across the country.

“Dapat meron tayong maayos na evacuation center para hindi na gamitin ang ating mga eskwelahan. Panahon na dapat tayo ay magkaroon ng maayos na evacuation center sa bawat probinsiya o siyudad. Dapat tayo maging ready at palakasin ang resiliency,” emphasized Go, co-sponsor and one of the authors of SBN 2451.

Go also said that if they need assistance with any health-related concerns, there are 159 Malasakit Centers in the country ready to assist them, including those at the nearby Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.

First launched in Cebu in 2018, the center is a one-stop shop that brings together the agencies from which patients may seek medical assistance: the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

To further improve the province’s health care system, Go, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also supported the funding of Super Health Centers in the province, including Carmen, Braulio E. Dujali, Talaingod, Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), and two of each in the cities of Panabo and Tagum.

Led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, the Department of Health is the lead implementing agency that identifies the strategic areas where these Super Health Centers will be established. From 2022 to 2024, the government will fund over 700 Super Health Centers.

To improve the delivery of public service in the province, Go, who is the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of roads in Asuncion, Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen, Tagum City, Kapalong, Panabo City, Santo Tomas; construction of slope protection in Carmen; construction of multipurpose buildings in Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella, Panabo City, Santo Tomas; construction of flood control projects in Carmen; and the construction and rehabilitation of public parks in New Corella and Sto. Tomas.

Meanwhile, he also supported the construction of several roads, such as the road from Crossing Toril, Babak to Brgy. Sto. Niño, Babak District, the road connecting San Agustin Elementary School to Maximo Arellano Elementary School Brgy. Sto. Niño, Babak District, and the road from the Port of Brgy. Sta. Cruz to Brgy. Linosutan in Talicud Island, Kaputian District, all in IGACOS, Davao del Norte.