PASAY CITY -- As he remained committed to bringing necessary aid to vulnerable sector groups, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go reminded the public to focus on their health as the government continues to balance the need to protect the well-being of Filipinos while slowly reopening the economy amid the ongoing threats caused by the pandemic.

In his video message during the relief operations organized in the towns of Leyte, Capoocan, and Carigara in the province of Leyte on Monday, September 27, Senator Go, who serves as the Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, urged the residents to continue supporting the government's vaccination efforts by participating in the national inoculation program.

"Mga kababayan, tuloy-tuloy po ang pagbabakuna ng mga senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, economic frontliners at mga indigent. Magpabakuna na kayo para protektado kayo at maiiwasan niyo ang mga grabeng sintomas ng COVID-19. Huwag magkumpiyansa at may mas delikadong variant na tinatawag na Delta variant," said Go.

He then offered medical assistance to those with health concerns as the Senator encouraged them to visit any of the five Malasakit Centers in the province located at New Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City; Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City; Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City; Leyte Provincial Hospital and Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital, both in Palo.

The Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463 which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate. The said measure aims to provide convenient access to government medical assistance to particularly poor and indigent patients and help them with their hospital bills and other health-related concerns.

"Huwag kayong matakot pumunta sa ospital kung wala kayong pera. Nasa loob na ng isang opisina ang mga ahensya, tulad ng DSWD, DOH, PCSO, at PhilHealth, na tutulungan kayo para wala na kayong babayaran. Kung may balanseng naiwan, may pondong iniwan din si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para kung kaya ay magiging 'zero balance' ang billing niyo," said Go.

Go's team distributed relief items such as meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins to a total of 1,500 vulnerable residents. The Senator also gave new pairs of shoes and bicycles to some recipients while others received computer tablets that their children may utilize during their classes under the blended learning approach.

To ensure everyone's safety, Go's staff implemented necessary safety and health protocols and grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches while they conducted the activities at Poblacion Zone II Gymnasium in Capoocan, Cariga Municipal Gymnasium, and Leyte Municipal Gymnasium.

Personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial support through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

The Department of Trade and Industry's and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority's assessed potential beneficiaries for their respective support programs.

"Noong wala pa pong pandemya, medyo okay naman po ang pamumuhay namin. Pero ngayon, hindi gaano kaganda ang pamumuhay. Kaya naman po yung natanggap ko po ngayon ay pambibili ko ng mga kailangan namin sa bahay. Maraming salamat po kay Senator Bong Go dahil binigyan nila kami ng tulong, malaking bagay na po ito lalo na po sa katulad ko na hindi makakapag-trabaho," Kimberly Ann Cañas, a 30-year-old person with disability, shared in an interview.

In line with his commitment to help boost the economic development in the countryside, Senator Go, who is the Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported several projects, including the road concretion with drainage control along Baluncanad-Naugisan in Capoocan; construction of local access road at Brgy. Libas in Leyte; and the construction of a multi-purpose building at Brgy. Barugohay Norte in Carigara.

Other projects he supported throughout the province are the construction of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) building in Brgy. Jones in Pastrana; the construction of Tacloban Airport, and installation of road studs in Tacloban City; the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Abuyog, Alangalang, Babatngon, Carigara, Dagami, Isabel, Jaro, Sta. Fe, and La Paz; and the rehabilitation of public markets in Inopacan, and Mahaplag.

Go also extended his support in the construction of farm-to-market roads in Hilongos, Javier, Macarthur, Matalom, Mayorga, and San Miguel; flood control protection works in Alangalang, Javier, Tanauan, and Tolosa; acquisition of multi-purpose vehicles in Burauen, and Tolosa; and acquisition of dump trucks in Inopacan, Isabel, and Villaba.

The Senator then commended Representatives Lolita Javier and Vicente Sofronio Veloso III; Governor Leopoldo "Mic" Petilla; Vice Governor Carlo Loreto; Capoocan Mayor Fe Claire Carolino-Paragatos and Vice Mayor Federico Carolino Sr.; Leyte Mayor Arnold James "Noli" Ysidoro and Vice Mayor Armando Ysidoro; Carigara Mayor Eduardo "Boy" Ong and Vice Mayor Eduardo Ong Jr., and other local officials for their hard work and determination in making certain that their respective communities are well supported during these challenging times.

"Mga kababayan ko, mag-ingat po tayo. Magdasal po tayo, magtulungan po tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Nandidito lang po kami ni Pangulong Duterte na handang magserbisyo po sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya," he ended.

Go's outreach team also gave similar forms of assistance to more underprivileged communities in Kananga, Merida, and Palompon, Jaro, Santa Fe, Pastrana, and Tacloban City. (OSBG)

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