TYPHOON-HIT RESIDENTS OF SIARGAO GET AID

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go’s outreach team visited the town of Gen. Luna, Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte on Tuesday, April 13 to deliver more assistance after Typhoon “Auring” (international name: “Sonamu”) ravaged the area in February.

The team organized a relief activity, conducted in batches at the Gen. Luna Elementary School, during which they served meals to a total of 800 residents.

They also provided each beneficiary with food and medicine packs and medicalgrade face masks and face shields while observing health protocols.

Selected beneficiaries received new pairs of shoes while some were given bicycles for their commuting needs. Some beneficiaries were provided computer tablets in order that their children could better participate in their blended-learning classes.

“Alam kong hirap kayo ngayong panahon na ito. At mayroon pa tayong pandemya na Covid-19, at tinamaan pa kayo ng pagbaha nitong mga nakaraang buwan dahil sa bagyo (I know that you are having difficulties at this time. And we even have the Covid-19 pandemic, and you were also hit by flood this past months because of the typhoon),” said Go in a video message.

“Magtulungan lang tayo. Sino pa ba ang magtutulungan kung hindi tayo lang na kapwa natin Pilipino (Let us help each other. Who else will help the Filipinos if not their fellow Filipinos),” he added.

In addition, concerned government agencies also participated in the activities as part of an ongoing effort by the national government and its local partners to help affected communities “build back better” from the impact of the disaster.

Personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also distributed separate financial and relief assistance to typhoon victims through the DSWD’s existing programs to aid individuals in crisis situations.

Additionally, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment will provide livelihood and employment assistance to eligible beneficiaries.

To ensure the health and safety of all residents, Go encouraged them to diligently follow the necessary health and safety protocols.

He offered to help any beneficiary with medical and health-related issues and advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center at the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City.

Go’s outreach team also aided a total of more than a thousand residents from the towns of Burgos, San Isidro and Pilar in a series of distribution activities on the same day.