The Office of Senator Bong Go provided aid to struggling residents in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday, 30 May.
Go’s team held the activity at the Marawi State University gymnasium where they provided snacks, vitamins, shirts, and masks to 1,000 residents. Some beneficiaries also received a bike, cellular phone, new pairs of shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, provided financial assistance to the residents.
As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also offered to assist those with health issues as he advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at Amai Pakpak Medical Center in the city.
First established in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop through which agencies such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office assist particularly poor and indigent patients by bringing the lowest amount possible their hospital bill.
To date, there are 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide which have assisted over seven million Filipinos, according to the DOH. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act.
Previously, former president Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11696, or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022. Under the law, which was co-authored by Go, necessary support will be provided to the victims of the 2017 Marawi City siege in order to rebuild their lives.
It likewise seeks to provide internally-displaced persons compensation or reparation for houses destroyed and properties that can no longer be recovered due to the attack of the terrorists in the city.
The senator, who is a member of the Senate Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation, underscored the need to prioritize the welfare of the affected residents to ensure that the community builds back better.
“Alam mo, biktima lamang sila ng giyera. Ang giyerang ‘yun, nangyari po ‘yon dahil sa terorismo at ilegal na droga. Ako po ay nalulungkot sa nangyari pero nagpapasalamat din po sa mga taong nagsakripisyo doon sa Marawi na giyera. ‘Yung nagbuwis ng buhay na mga militar at mga pulis, nagsakripisyo po sila. Para po ‘yun sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan,” Go earlier said.
Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also supported several projects in the province, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings in Balabagan, Butig, Ganassi, Kapatagan, Lumbaca Unayan, Malabang, Masiu, and Ditsaan-Ramain; construction of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Marantao; and the construction of evacuation centers in Ganassi and Buadiposo-Buntong.
“Mga kababayan ko, kaunting tiis lang po at ingat tayo parati at magdasal tayo parati. At tandaan niyo po, minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na puwede natin gawin sa ating kapwa Pilipino ay gawin na po natin ngayon, dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” Go said.
“Patuloy kami na magseserbisyo po sa inyong lahat dahil para sa amin po, ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos,” he added.