Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Drugs destroy lives, communitie­s – Sen. Go

About 270 market vendors receive food packs, masks, face shields and vitamins

- BY ELMER N. MANUEL @tribunephl_lmer

The Of fice of Senator Christophe­r “Bong” Go has distribute­d assistance to public market vendors in Langaray, Caloocan City even as he warned them against the destructiv­e effects of illegal drugs. In a video call to the market vendors, Go urged the residents to join the fight against illegal drugs, adding that their money is better spent for their families, especially amid the economic woes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As I’ve said,” said the senator in Filipino, “let’s stay away from drugs because they’re really dangerous. The money you’ll receive, the money you’ll earn, use them to buy your children’s needs, their food — not drugs.”

“Drugs do not just destroy the brain, they also destroy the family and community.

President Duterte and I, we will continue the fight against corruption, criminalit­y and drugs. We will not stop until we are able to protect the future of our children,” he said.

Should they know of individual­s who have drug problems, Go assured them that the government is ready to provide support for their rehabilita­tion and reintegrat­ion to communitie­s to become productive citizens once again.

The beneficiar­ies, consisting of 270 public market vendors from the Langaray Public Market in Caloocan City, were given meals, food packs, masks, face shields and vitamins.

The first batch of public market vendors in Langaray was initially provided similar assistance by Go’s office on 22 October.

Go also gave away bicycles while others received tablets for their children’s use for online classes under the blended learning set up.

The distributi­on of assistance was conducted while fully complying with the necessary health and safety protocols to avoid further spread of COVID-19.

The senator urged the residents to avail of medical assistance from the nearest Malasakit Center located at Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital. Go personally attended the launch of the center, the country’s 90th, on the 6th of November.

The Malasakit Center is a one- stop shop where all four government agencies, namely the Department of Social Welfare and Developmen­t, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweeps takes Of f i ce and PhilHealth, is already under one roof, with special lanes for senior citizens and persons with disabiliti­es.

Despite the pandemic, Go said he will continue to reach out and extend needed assistance to Filipinos in crisis situations.

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SBG ?? SENATOR Christophe­r ‘Bong’ Go during a relief operation.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SBG SENATOR Christophe­r ‘Bong’ Go during a relief operation.

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