Go graces inauguration of new Surigao del Sur evacuation center
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go personally witnessed the inauguration of an evacuation center in Barangay Mangagoy, Bislig City in Surigao del Sur.
The ceremony was attended by Vice Governor Manuel Alameda Sr., City Mayor Florencio Garay, Barangay Captain Rolando Millan and other local officials.
During the ceremony, Go expressed his gratitude to all the people who contributed to the construction of the evacuation center, the funding of which was supported by the senator.
Go then emphasized the importance of having a safe and secure place for the community to go to during times of crisis.
The lawmaker then highlighted his Senate Bill (SB) No.193, which if passed into law, shall mandate the creation of evacuation centers in every province, city and municipality nationwide to serve as temporary shelters for those who are displaced by natural and man-made disasters.
Apart from the evacuation center, Go, as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported other projects in the city, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings in Barangays Poblacion and Pamaypayan, and the road concreting along Bocto-Tumanan Road.
Go said that these local infrastructure projects are in line with his efforts to support former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program and the Build, Better, More infrastructure program of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.
After the inauguration, Go personally led a relief activity at Barangay Mangagoy Gymnasium for 500 disadvantaged residents in the city.
The senator and his team distributed grocery packs, masks, shirts and snacks. They also gave away bicycles, shoes, cellular phones, watches, caps, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
A team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was also in attendance and extended financial assistance.
As an advocate for Filipinos’ well-being, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered to assist those with health concerns and advised them to reach out to the nearby Malasakit Centers at Lianga District Hospital in Lianga and Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City.
The Malasakit Centers program has already helped over seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to the Department of Health.
Meanwhile, Go continues to push for more Super Health Centers across the country.
The Super Health Center is a healthcare facility that offers services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
Through the efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 SHCs in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where SHCs will be constructed.
On the same day, Go also personally visited Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur where he spearheaded a similar relief operation for more indigents, graced the groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center, and witnessed the turnover of a road which he supported.