PASAY CITY -- As part of his commitment for the welfare of frontliners and the rest of the people of Pampanga, the Office of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go mounted a second relief effort in Arayat, this time for the frontline workers who continue to provide vital services for the community at the risk of contracting COVID-19.

As the country experiences a wave of cases from the highly transmissible Delta variant, Go sent a video message on Tuesday, October 5, urging members of the public to keep taking precautions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, especially for the most vulnerable sections of the population.

"Mga kababayan ko, kaunting tiis lang po. Alam kong nahihirapan kayo. Kami rin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ay nahihirapan na din. Subalit, kayo ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin para magserbisyo pa upang malampasan natin itong krisis na ating kinakaharap," said Go.

"Kailangan ng tulong ninyo dahil hindi ito kayang gawing mag-isa sa gobyerno. Pakiusap namin ni Pangulo, kahit bakunado na kayo, 'wag maging kumpiyansa at hindi pa rin natin masasabi dahil 'yung hindi pa bakunado ay maaaring mahawa," he appealed.

The Senator's team distributed meals, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 2,000 farmers, laborers, and Bantay Bayan volunteers at the covered court at Colleges of Asia. The activity was conducted in small batches in compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

Selected beneficiaries received new pairs of shoes while some received bicycles for their commuting needs. Others also received computer tablets to help their children under the blended learning set-up.

Meanwhile, personnel from Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed financial assistance as part of an ongoing effort by the government to alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable sectors.

"Nung walang pandemic, nakakaraos naman kami. Pero ngayon, nagkahirap-hirap ang buhay dahil bawal lumabas at walang pagkakataong magkaroon ng trabaho. Ang hirap dahil ang dami mong iniiwasan gaya ng virus. Buti nalang at nasa ibang bansa 'yung asawa ko at kahit papaano ay nakakapagpadala siya ng pera," said Jayson Victoria, 44, a Bantay Bayan volunteer at Brgy. Lacmit.

"Mister President and Sir Bong Go, maraming salamat po sa tulong na ibinigay niyo sa amin. Malaking tulong ito at may pangbili na kami ng pagkain. Hayaan niyo po at makakatulong din kami sa inyo balang araw," he continued.

With COVID-19 posing a threat to seniors and those with underlying conditions, Go also offered to assist any person who needs medical care. He advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City or Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando City where they may avail of further aid for their hospital and other-related expenses.

"Kung kailangan niyo ng tulong sa pagpapagamot, mayroon na tayong 141 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas. Batas na po 'yan na isinulong ko noon," said Go.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The program has assisted three million Filipinos since it was institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act in 2019.

The Senator ended his message thanking 3rd District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr., PATROL Party List Rep. Jorge Bustos, Governor Dennis Pineda, Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino, Vice Mayor Sixto Mallari Jr., and other public officials for their hard work and service at this time.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported various infrastructure initiatives to accelerate the development and improve the delivery of services in Arayat.

Among these are the concreting of existing roads in Barangays Batasan and Tabuan; concreting of the farm-to-market road in Brgy. San Jose Mesulo; construction of a multi-purpose covered area in Barangays Buensuceso and Matamo; construction or improvement of multi-purpose buildings in Barangays Cupang, San Mateo and San Nicolas; and acquisition of medical equipment for the Dr. Emigdio C. Cruz Memorial Hospital.

Go likewise supported the acquisition of new equipment for other hospitals in San Fernando City and the towns of Bacolor, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Porac, and San Luis as well as the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Candaba, Floridablanca, Santa Monica, Macabebe, Magalang, and Masantol, among others.

Last December 14, the senator personally led the distribution of assistance to over two thousand victims of Typhoon Ulysses, including affected farmers, at the Arayat Glorietta Gym and in Candaba. More recently, his team provided relief to thousands of transport workers and vendors in Magalang on September 20. (OSBG)

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