Bong Go spearheads relief activity in Balayan, Batangas

Sen. Bong Go proceeded to Balayan, Batangas on Monday, 7 November, to lead yet another series of relief operations for its indigent residents.

In his speech, Go reaffirmed his commitment to push for more opportunities for disadvantaged Filipinos, especially amid the pandemic.

He then praised his fellow Batangueños for remaining optimistic during these challenging times, saying, "Ako po'y may dugong Batangueño. Tesoro po ako, Christopher Lawrence Tesoro Go. Pero 'yung dugo ko po ay nananatiling Batangueño. Kaya sabi nga ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, 'pag pinagsama mo ang Batangueño at Bisaya, 'yan po 'yung dugong matapang at mayroong malasakit sa kapwa. Iyan po ang tapang at malasakit, mga Batangueño."

"Gusto kong pasalamatan kayong lahat sa ibinigay n'yo pong tulong at suporta… Huwag ho kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Sa totoo lang po, ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n'yo po ako ng pagkakataon na magserbisyo po sa inyo. Hinding-hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataong 'yan. Magseserbisyo po ako sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya," he reassured.

Go and his team provided grocery packs, meals, vitamins, masks, sunglasses, and shirts to 1,362 indigents at Balayan Government Center and Old Municipal Hall. He also provided cellular phones, umbrellas, watches, and shoes to select individuals.

Meanwhile, as a staunch advocate of sports development and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, Go provided bicycles, balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.

"Gusto ko pong engganyuhin ang mga kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Isang paraan po 'yon na ipagpatuloy po natin ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga at kriminalidad. Ayaw ko pong sayangin ang naumpisahan ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Kaya tulungan n'yo po kami. Engganyuhin po natin ang mga kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs po," Go encouraged.

As part of the government's wider efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of the pandemic, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development then provided financial assistance to 851 beneficiaries while the Department of Labor and Employment provided livelihood support to 511 other qualified individuals.