PASAY CITY -- As President Rodrigo Duterte recently approved the expansion of vaccine rollout to the general public, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go appealed to the local government units to work closely with the national government to ensure that residents are inoculated efficiently and no vaccines go to waste.

In his video message during the distribution activities in Brgys. Buhangin Proper, Cabantian, Tibungco, Panacan, and Sasa in Davao City on Tuesday, October 5, Senator Go reminded the public to get vaccinated immediately to help the country attain herd immunity soon.

Go also asked fellow Davaoeños to strictly follow health preventive guidelines, even after receiving their complete doses, to prevent the further spread of the virus.

"Nasa datos na 'pag bakunado ka, protektado ka, hindi ka aabot sa pagka-severe o pagkamatay. Tingnan niyo ang nasa ospital, sino ang mga nagpositibo, sino ang nag positibo sa COVID-19? Itong higit kumulang 80% ang hindi bakunado. Libre naman po itong bakuna, kaya magpabakuna na po kayo," Go said.

"Kailangan po natin magtulungan, kailangan po ang kooperasyon at disiplina ng bawat isa," he added.

Despite being an aspiring Vice President, Go reiterated that he is committed to ensuring that particularly poor and indigent Filipinos have convenient access to public services especially quality health care. He offered help to those who may need medical attention and informed them to visit the Malasakit Center located at Southern Philippines Medical Center in the city.

"Ang Malasakit Center po ay batas na, isinulong ko po noon, pinirmahan ni Pangulong Duterte. Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital 'yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno at tutulungan po kayo, ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, at DSWD. Zero balance po ang target ng Malasakit Center," said Go.

"Lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center sa lugar ninyo kung kailangan ninyo ng tulong sa pampagamot. Alagaan po natin ang ating kalusugan. Tutulong po kami para masigurong mabigyan kayo ng nararapat na serbisyong pang-medikal," he added.

Go's staff proceeded in grouping the 1,298 struggling residents into smaller batches and implemented necessary safety and health protocols while they handed out relief items, such as snacks, grocery packs, masks, face shields, and vitamins. Some beneficiaries were also given new pairs of shoes, bicycles, or computer tablets for their children's educational needs.

The beneficiaries then separately received financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Furthermore, representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority each evaluated potential beneficiaries and gave them opportunities to participate in their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

Lastly, some residents were given livelihood assistance by the Department of Labor and Employment through their Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

To ensure public safety, Go's team carried out the distribution in separate venues, namely Brgy. Pandaitan Multi-purpose Gymnasium, Brgy. Buhangin Gymnasium, St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall in Brgy. Tibungco, Brgy. Bunawan Gymnasium, and Brgy. Sasa Function Hall.

Leonor Canoy, 45, thanked the government for bringing necessary aid to their community, saying, "Malaki po ang aking pasasalamat dahil ako po ay isa sa mga benepisyaryo ng DOLE sa programang TUPAD. Maraming salamat din Sir Bong Go, sa binigay ninyo dito sa aming lugar. Napakalaking tulong po nito."

To further boost the economic development and help the community recover from the challenges caused by the pandemic, Go, who also serves as the Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of flood mitigation structures in Brgys. 9-A, and Talomo; construction of drainage systems in Brgys. Centro, Agdao, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper, Tomas Monteverde Sr. Agdao, and Mintal; and construction of multi-purpose hall in Brgys. Pandaitan, Paquibato, Rafael Castillo, and Lapu-Lapu.

He also supported the acquisition of ambulance units and the construction of a 300-bed capacity Infectious Disease Building for Southern Philippines Medical Center; acquisition of ambulance units in Brgys. Mintal, Buhangin Proper, and Gatungan; acquisition of dump trucks in Brgy. Mintal; and road constructions in several barangays.

Go concluded his message by expressing his gratitude toward the local government officials of Davao City led by Mayor Sara Duterte for their untiring service in ensuring that their constituents are well-supported during these times of crisis. (OSBG)

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