PASAY CITY -- Consistent with his mission to help Filipinos recover from the pandemic, the Office of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Monday, October 4, provided emergency assistance to 1,557 residents of Valencia City and Dangcagan in Bukidnon.

"Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay gagawin po namin ang lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya upang malampasan po natin itong krisis na ito bilang nagkakaisang mamamayang Pilipino. Kailangan po namin ang kooperasyon at tulong ng bawat Pilipino," said Go in a video message.

"Sumunod tayo sa mga health protocols - mask, face shield, kung kakailanganin po sa mga enclosed na areas, social distancing at hugas ng kamay. Kung hindi naman po importante, huwag munang umalis ng pamamahay dahil delikado pa po ang panahon. Habang nandidiyan po si COVID, delikado pa po ang panahon," he reminded them.

His team carried out relief activities at the covered courts of Valencia City and Dangcagan during which they distributed snacks, vitamins, masks, and face shields. They also provided selected residents new pairs of shoes and bicycles so they have better access to their basic needs and services.

Others also received computer tablets, an important educational tool, to help their children under the blended learning set-up.

Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in a separate event, also gave financial assistance as part of a set of intervention measures by the government for communities in crisis.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority provided training support fund to residents of Valencia City. The Department of Trade and Industry, in turn, conducted an onsite business name registration for those who have small businesses, as well as community-based training. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture distributed vegetable seeds and fertilizers.

Go then offered further support to any resident with health-related concerns. He advised them to visit the Malasakit Center located at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag where they may avail of government assistance for their hospital and other related expenses.

"Mayroon na ho tayong 141 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Ang Malasakit Center, one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital 'yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno - ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD, handang tumulong po sa inyo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing," he said.

"Para po 'yan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Para po 'yan sa Pilipino. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center," he added.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which provides particularly poor and indigent patients convenient access to the medical assistance offered by the relevant agencies, namely, the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The program, which Go launched in 2018 and subsequently signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019, has 141 operational centers nationwide.

The Senator then went on to thank local officials and representatives of concerned national agencies during the event.

"Kaunting tiis lang po. Alam ko pong nahirapan kayo. Kami rin po ni Pangulong Duterte ay nahirapan po kami sa sitwasyon ngayon. Subalit, kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin upang makapagserbisyo pa at malampasan natin itong krisis na ating kinakaharap sa ngayon. Maraming salamat po. Mag-ingat kayong lahat. Magdasal tayo parati," he ended.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Go has supported various infrastructure development initiatives in Dangcagan, such as the acquisition of an ambulance and rehabilitation of the town's public park. In Valencia City, the Senator also supported the concreting of the road from Barangay Maapag to Brgy. Catumbalon.

He also supported other initiatives throughout the province to improve public service delivery and boost economic development. Among these are the constructions of the Pangantucan section of the Southern Bukidnon Agri-Industrial Economic Zone road network; missing road links in Baungon, Libona and Talakag; access road leading to the Bukidnon Airport; and farm-to-market and local roads in Cabanglasan, Kadingilan, Kibawe, Kitaotao, Lantapan, San Fernando, Talakag, and Valencia City.

On August 12 and 13, Go's team also extended aid to 1,234 motorela and payong-payong drivers at Valencia City. All activities were carried out in batches to ensure strict adherence to the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)

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