BONG REVILLA GIVES RELIEF, P1M MEDICAL AID TO ISABELA

In pursuit of his commitment to alleviate the plight of the underprivileged, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. has provided relief assistance and P1 million medical aid for the needy residents of Isabela Province .

Aside from conducting last week his Kaagapay sa Araw ng Pangangailangan (KAP) relief operations program for the typhoon-stricken families in Isabela, Bong Revilla also launched his Kalusugan Ating Pangalagaan (KAP) medical assistance program in the said province which was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by the senator, Dr. Filemon F. Dionato, Jr. of the Gov. Faustino Dy, Sr. Memorial Hospital and Isabela Governor Faustino Bojie Dy III.

The lawmaker stressed that due to financial difficulties, most of Filipino families ignore the importance of monitoring their health, which usually led to aggravation of their sickness. "This is the reason why I see to it that a significant portion of my Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF will go to medical assistance. This is one of my ways to fulfill my self-directed task of alleviating our underprivileged countrymen," he said.

To avail of the medical assistance, indigent patients of the province can go or send a representative to the Provincial Capitol of Isabela. The medical assistance will be given as a guarantee letter where the amount that the patient can avail under the program is indicated. "Nandito lang ang ating mga guarantee letters. Inaalay ko ito sa mga mamamayan ng Isabela; nakahanda para makatulong sa kanila," he said.

Since the aftermath of typhoon Pedring, Bong Revilla has been relentlessly conducting relief efforts in various calamity-stricken parts of the country. He said the KAP relief operations may only slightly ease the needs and pain of the calamity victims, it is still a way of augmenting the relief efforts being initiated by the government, non-government organizations, private agencies and other individuals. "Ang kasabihan nga, anumang mabigat ay gumagaan basta marami ang pumapasan. Sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, tulong-tulong tayo. Anuman ang makakayanan natin. Kapag pinagsama, napakalaking kontribusyon na," he pointed out.

The lawmaker earlier urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to make sure that new, reconstructed and repaired infrastructures in the Philippines are built with high standard materials that can withstand the impact of Climate Change. He explained that the construction of Climate Change-proof infrastructures is money well spent on the part of the government because it has long- term benefits. "We are now experiencing the effects of Climate Change. We must include in our mitigation plan the construction of Climate Change- proof infrastructures. This will not only reduce damage of properties but also the number of casualties," added.