Bong Go provides aid to ‘Egay’ victims

AMID the Dinagyang festivities, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go made sure to assist Ilonggos in need as he led the relief activity for Typhoon “Egay” victims from Iloilo City, Zarraga and Pavia on Sunday, January 28.

Go’s visit in Iloilo will not be complete without helping communities in need, particularly those recovering from recent calamities.

“Besides attending the Dinagyang to enjoy and celebrate the festival, I also help our countrymen who are in need here in Iloilo City. Last week, I also attended the Sinulog in Cebu (City). But I also visited the fire victims and provided some assistance to make them happy,” said Go in his speech.

The relief activity was held at Bakhaw Integrated School in Mandurriao District, Iloilo City, where 53 affected families received grocery packs, meals, vitamins, masks, shirts, belt bags, basketballs and volleyballs. There were also select recipients of shoes, mobile phones, and bicycles.

Through Go’s initiative, the National Housing Authority (NHA) also provided emergency housing assistance to qualified families to help them buy housing materials for the rebuilding of their houses.

In assisting the calamity victims, Go was joined by former councilor Love Baronda, NHA-Region 6 acting division manager Atty. John Leo Solinap and City Social Welfare and Development Officer

Teresa Gelogo.

Meanwhile, Go continues to push for the enactment of Senate Bill (SB) 188, also known as the “Department of Disaster Resilience Act,” which seeks to create a highly specialized agency to ensure adaptive, disaster-resilient and safe communities. If passed into law, the DDR centralizes efforts, streamlines coordination, and provides swift and effective emergency response.

The measure proposes several critical provisions, including a database for all relevant disaster risk reduction and climate change information and a streamlined mechanism to guarantee timely delivery of assistance to disaster-stricken areas.

In Iloilo City, Go supported the construction of multipurpose buildings and health stations in various barangay, road rehabilitation, and the acquisition of medical equipment.

He also supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Barotac Viejo, the concreting or construction of roads in Badiangan, Banate, Carles, Dumangas, Lemery, Miag-ao and Sara; completion of the barangay health stations in Leon; construction of a flood control system in Balasan; construction of a seawall in Banate; construction of the legislative building complete with facilities in San Dionisio; and improvement of the public parks in Dueñas.