Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) and 2019 senatorial candidate Bong Go sent his sympathies to the families of victims of the 6.1 magnitude quake that recently struck Luzon.
“Nakalungkot po ang mga nangyayaring mga ganitong trahedya. Ako po ay nakikidalamhati sa mga naapektuhan ng lindol lalong-lalo na po sa namatayan at nasugatan,” Go said in a radio interview.
At least 15 people died in the province of Pampanga alone after many structures collapsed when the strong quake rattled Luzon, as authorities are still in a frantic effort to search for survivors.
“Sa mga oras na ito makiisa po tayo at mag sama-sama para tumulong sa mga kababayan nating naging biktima ng lindol,” the former presidential aide said.
The former SAP said politics should take a step back to give way for the immediate concern of helping people affected by the tremor, restoring basic services, and inspection of structures to ensure the safety of everyone.
“Politics should take a step back to give way for the immediate concern of helping people affected by the tremor.”
“Para sa akin tigil pulitika muna kaya nga po ang rally ng PDP (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino) sa Bataan ay napost-pone muna ng Pangulo,” he said.
Go also urged people hit hard by the earthquake to keep calm. He assured them that President Rodrigo Duterte is on top of the situation and has mobilized all the concerned agencies and resources of government to help them, noting he was in touch with the President since Monday night.
“Magbibigay din po ng tulong ang ating Pangulo sa mga nasugatan at namatayan. At huwag po kayong mag panic kasi ang gobyerno po natin ay nandidito naman po. Kagabi nga inirekomenda po ng NDRRMC na ikansela muna ang trabaho para tignan ang mga gusali po kung safe po ba ito na gamitin,” Go said.
“Sa ngayon naman po nandiyan po ang DSWD, DOH, mga police at iba’t-ibang local government unit na nagtutulungan upang mailigtas ang mga biktima lalong-lalo na po sa Pampanga at masiguradong ligtas po ang lahat. Nandiyan naman po ang DPWH para tignan po ang mga gusali at handa pong ayusin ang mga nasira dahil ang Presidente po ay nakatutok po dito,” he added.
Go assured them, based on the directives of the President, government is ready to provide earthquake victims with all the necessary assistance to ensure their well-being and safety.
“Kasama ninyo ang gobyerno na handang mag malasakit at mag serbisyo po para sa inyo,” he said.
Go accompanied the President who visited Pampanga to personally assess the situation and conduct a situation briefing at the Pampanga provincial capitol building.
“Kasama po ako ng Pangulo na mag-iikot. Kasi dapat nga po pupuntahan ko din po the first available time at gusto namin tingnan kung ano ang pwedeng gawin ng national government hindi lamang sa Pampanga maging sa iba’t ibang lugar (na apektado ng lindol),” he said.
Meanwhile, Go reminded all those who need medical assistance in Pampanga that they could avail of the services of the their Malasakit Center.
“Mayroon lamang po akong paalala. Mayroon po tayong Malasakit Center d’yan sa San Fernando, Pampanga. Isa po ‘yon sa ating 34 na Malasakit Center. Sa lahat po nang nangangailangan ng tulong medikal lumapit lamang po sa Malasakit Center,” he said.
“Those who need medical assistance in Pampanga can avail of the services of the Malasakit Center there.”
The Malasakit Center in Pampanga was launched last October 8, 2018 at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital.
The Malasakit Center is a program of the Duterte administration, based on Go’s idea, meant to make it easier and faster for disadvantaged patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies such as the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philhealth.
