PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go urged communities to support the government's health response to the COVID-19 outbreak in order to mitigate its economic impacts, particularly on low-income households and small businesses, during his visit to Tangub City, Misamis Occidental on Tuesday, October 12.

In a message delivered before the city's most vulnerable residents, Go underscored the need to vaccinate as many people as possible so the economy can fully resume activities that require in-person interactions.

"Huwag po tayo magkumpiyansa dahil habang nandidito ang COVID-19 ay delikado pa ang panahon. Kapag nabakuhan na ang 70 percent ng populasyon at nakamtam na natin ang population protection leading to herd immunity ay unti-unti din nating luluwagin ang mga restriksyon," reassured Go.

"Pakiusap, magtiwala kayo kay Pangulo (Rodrigo) Duterte at sa gobyerno. Magpabakuna na kayo para makabalik na tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay at masaya ang ating Pasko," he added.

To address their immediate needs, his team organized an activity at the Sinanduloy Cultural Center in coordination with the concerned national agencies. The senator and his personnel distributed grocery packs, meals, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 400 small business owners.

They gave bicycles and new pairs of shoes. They also gave some computer tablets so their children can access learning materials under the blended learning set-up.

Moreover, as part of a cross-government effort to alleviate the financial impacts of the pandemic, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed livelihood assistance while the Department of Agriculture handed out supplies of assorted vegetable seeds.

The Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.

The senator, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, urged local government units to fast-track its vaccine rollout to protect communities from the existing and emerging threats of COVID-19.

"Sa ngayon ay may mga 50 million doses na tayong naiturok. Sinasabi ng datos na 'pag bakunado ka mas mababa ang tyansa na ikaw ay magkakasakit ng grabe o maoospital dahil sa COVID-19. Ang problema may mga nagpapaliban at naghihintay ng ibang bakuna. Huwag na kayo mamili… Ang importante po ay protektado kayo," appealed Go.

"Kung mahal niyo inyong pamilya, magpabakuna na kayo. Pinaghirapan ito makuha ng gobyerno at libre naman ito… bilang inyong committee chair, handa akong tumulong para mas mapadali ang inyong vaccination program dito sa inyong probinsya," he added.

In addition, Go also pledged to help improve the delivery of vital healthcare services and offered to help with the construction of a new dialysis clinic at the Doña Maria D. Tan Memorial Center (DMDTMH) in the said city.

He encouraged residents needing medical care to seek aid at the Malasakit Centers at the DMDTMH, which was launched earlier that day, and at the Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center (MHARS) in Ozamiz City.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs offered by the national government, specifically the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The program was institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which Go primarily authored and sponsored.

"Ang swerte ng Tangub (City) dahil kayo ang 143 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas, 1 4 3, na ang ibig sabihin 'I love you'! Batas ito na isinulong ko at pinirmahan ni Pangulong Duterte. Ang target nito ay zero balance. Pag may balanse kayo, tutulong ang Malasakit Center para wala na kayong babayaran sa inyong pagpapaospital," explained Go.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported plenty of initiatives to enhance the delivery of public services and alleviate the impacts of the pandemic for the most vulnerable in Misamis Occidental.

They include the completion of the DMDTMH, construction of a multi-purpose building in Barangay Lorenzo Tan and Governor Alfonso D. Tan College, and provision of financial assistance for education and social protection in light of COVID-19 in Tangub City.

Other major initiatives include the rehabilitation of roads in Aloran, Bonifacio, Calamba, Don Victoriano, Jimenez, Sapang Dalaga, Tudela, Sinacban and Ozamiz City; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Concepcion, Jimenez, Plaridel, Tudela, Oroquieta City and Ozamiz City; construction of an eco-tourism highway; and the installation of solar streetlights along provincial roads.

Despite filing his candidacy for Vice President for the upcoming national elections, Go maintained that his focus remains on fulfilling his mandate as a senator and ensuring that no Filipino will be left behind towards recovery amid the ongoing health crisis.

"Wala ng ibang hangarin si Pangulo Duterte kundi ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino. Ang kaniyang sakripisyo at pagmamahal sa inyo simula noon at hanggang ngayon nandiyan talaga," said Go.

"Ako naman, ipagpapatuloy ko ang mga programa na sinimulan ng Pangulo. Kung ano ang makakabuti dadagdagan ko pa upang makatulong sa mahihirap. Uunahin ko palagi ang mga mahihirap, 'yung mga hopeless, helpless at walang matakbuhan," he vowed.

Earlier that day, the senator personally witnessed the launch of the 143rd Malasakit Center at the DMDTMH, conducted a monitoring visit at the MHARS, and led the distribution of assistance to various sectors affected by the pandemic at the Medina Gym in Ozamiz City. (OSBG)

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