Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive local development and grassroots welfare as he visited his hometown of Lupon, Davao Oriental, on Thursday, 30 October, to extend assistance to residents affected by recent earthquakes and other vulnerable sectors.

Working in coordination with Board Member Don Montojo, Mayor Santos Alonzo Jr., and Vice Mayor Atty. Christian Lawrence Go, the senator and his Malasakit Team led a relief activity at the New Gymnasium in Lupon, where they distributed aid to 1,233 beneficiaries from various sectors, including women, persons with disabilities, farmers, and indigenous peoples.

Recipients received shirts, fans, bags, vitamins, pens, basketballs, and volleyballs, while select individuals also received bicycles, shoes, phones, and watches.

Go commended the national government for extending additional financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries, noting that such programs aim to ease the burden of low-income Filipinos struggling to recover.

“This assistance from one of the government’s programs is meant to help our poor Filipino workers who are struggling to make ends meet. As long as it benefits the poor and those truly in need, I will continue to support it,” Go said in Filipino.

“This is a step toward supporting our workers amid ongoing economic challenges and crises, such as the recent earthquakes,” he added.

As vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has backed several infrastructure and social projects in Lupon, including road improvements, the construction of multipurpose buildings, and the upgrading of local health facilities.

Meanwhile, as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, he urged residents with medical concerns to seek help from the nearest Malasakit Center located 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. To date, 167 centers are operational nationwide, serving as one-stop shops for patients seeking medical and financial assistance. The Department of Health reported that the program has benefited over 17 million Filipinos.

The senator also discussed his ongoing legislative efforts aimed at promoting grassroots welfare and disaster resilience. As principal author and co-sponsor of Republic Act 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, Go highlighted the importance of establishing permanent, safe, and well-equipped evacuation centers in every city and municipality.

“I am appealing to my fellow government officials to prioritize the construction of evacuation centers since it is already mandated by law, rather than allowing funds to go to waste on flood control projects that are being exploited by a few,” Go said.

To further strengthen social support systems, Go filed Senate Bill No. 411, which seeks to establish a National Senior Citizens Hospital. He also filed SBN 680, or the proposed Post-harvest Facilities in Every Agricultural Municipality Act, which mandates the construction of warehouses and rice mills in rice-producing areas, and SBN 681, or the proposed Fertilizer Subsidy for Farmers Act, which aims to provide financial assistance to farmers and lower their production costs.

During the relief event, Go was also seen purchasing local snacks such as boiled eggs, puto, and peanuts from a street vendor, which he shared with attendees to encourage support for small businesses. “Let us support our own local products,” he said.

“Public service has become my passion. I believe that serving the people is a form of serving God,” Go concluded.