Bong Go visits quake victims in Digos City; urges local governments not to politicize humanitarian assistance

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go urged local government officials of disaster-stricken areas not to politicize the provision of humanitarian assistance to victims of natural disasters on Friday, November 22.

"Sa panahon na may disasters, magtulungan po tayo. Kawawa ang mga kababayan natin kung pati ito ay hahaluan ng pulitika," Go said during an ambush interview right after the turnover of financial assistance to earthquake victims in Digos City, Davao del Sur.

Before proceeding to Digos City, Go also made a visit to quake victims in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato earlier in the day.

Go urged residents to trust their local government officials, saying "Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, dapat tayo magtiwala sa mga local officials. Hindi dapat hahaluan ng pulitika ito," he said.

"Kami naman, may tiwala kami sa inyong mga local officials at nakatingin kami diyan at ang taumbayan. Ako, nakiusap ako sa kanila na walang pulitika. Ito 'yung mga panahon dapat na walang pulitika, na walang pinipili. Eh, pera ng tao yan. Ibalik natin 'yan," added Go.

The senator also assured that he and President Rodrigo Duterte are always willing to help anyone, regardless of partisan affiliation.

"Kami po wala kaming pinipili. Kung sino ang kailangan ng tulong, tutulong kami," Go said. "Si Pangulong Duterte nagbigay rin siya ng tulong para pambili ng mga kagamitan sa kanilang munisipyo," he said.

It was the senator's third time to visit the victims since a series of earthquakes hit Mindanao in late October and early November. He was joined by representatives of various concerned government agencies, such as the National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which also extended additional aid.

"Tuluy-tuloy po ang pamimigay ng assistance ko sa kanila simula pa noong unang lindol. Pangatlong bisita ko na ito sa Cotabato kanina at sa Davao Del Sur," Go told members of the press.

"Kasama rin dito ang iba't ibang government agencies para magbigay ng kanilang tulong. Tulung-tulong po sila at ang private sector para magbigay ng tulong po sa inyo," Go told the victims during his message to them.

"Para sa akin, importante ang buhay ng tao. 'Yung mga gamit, pwedeng palitan 'yan," he added.

Seeking the unity and cooperation of the public in times of calamities, Go also told that he aims to assess the needs of the victims during his visits.

"Tulungan lang tayo sa mga ganitong oras. Nagpunta rin ako para makapagbigay kaagad ng tulong at malaman kung ano ang pangangailangan nila. Lalo na 'yung (pag)eskwela, para makabalik kaagad ang mga bata sa pag-aaral nila," he said.

During his speech, Go also informed the audience that the Malasakit Center Act of 2019 will soon be signed into law. The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop for government medical financial assistance to help particularly poor and indigent patients. The center aims to expedite the delivery of such assistance to those in need by putting all those agencies extending help in just one center.

"Ang Malasakit Center po ay isang one-stop shop para magbigay ng tulong medikal sa inyo. Mayroon po itong express lanes para sa mga PWDs at senior citizens para hindi na kayo mahirapang pumila sa iba't ibang ahensya," he said.

"Basta kami ni Pangulo, wala na kaming hihilingin pa. Gusto na lang namin ibalik ang serbisyo sa tao," he said.

Go assured residents of both provinces hit by the earthquake that Malasakit Centers will soon be established each in North Cotabato and Davao Del Sur.