PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's office distributed relief and further aid to 1,500 pandemic-affected workers, including members of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association, event staff, carinderia and sari-sari store owners, and ambulant vendors, on Friday, July 16.

“Alam ko pong mahirap ang panahon ngayon, nasa krisis po tayo dulot ng COVID-19 pandemic. Magtulungan lang po tayo at magtiwala tayo sa ating gobyerno na walang ibang hangarin kundi proteksyunan ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” greeted Go in a video message.

The Senator also urged those who are eligible to be vaccinated, particularly economic frontliners and essential workers, not to be afraid of the COVID-19 vaccines and to get inoculated as soon as possible to protect themselves from the virus while also helping the community achieve herd immunity faster.

“Mga kababayan ko, ang bakuna po ang pag-asa natin dito. Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna. Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” said Go.

“Ang ating target ngayon ay makamtan natin ang population protection at herd immunity po. Sana po bago mag-Pasko para naman po sumaya ang ating Pasko. Sa mga nasa priority list na po, magpabakuna na po kayo. At sa mga nabakunahan na po ng two doses, mga kababayan ko, huwag ho kayong maging kumpiyansa,” he added.

The distribution of assistance was held at the Labangan Multi-Purpose Hall where the beneficiaries received meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins. The distribution was done in small batches to ensure that all of the appropriate health and safety measures were followed.

Given the limited transport choices, selected recipients were also given new pairs of shoes or bicycles to utilize for a more convenient commute. Other recipients received computer tablets, which would allow their children to more quickly access educational materials and participate more actively in class.

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, then, assured the beneficiaries with health concerns that the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center in Pagadian City and Margosatubig Regional Hospital in Margosatubig town have Malasakit Centers where they can conveniently avail of medical assistance to help settle their health-related expenses.

The center is a one-stop shop where Filipinos, particularly poor and indigent patients, can conveniently access medical assistance from concerned government agencies, such as DSWD, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

There are now 129 Malasakit Centers in the country since the program was initiated by Go in February 2018, with the latest opened on July 16 at the Tondo Medical Center in Tondo, Manila. It is now institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which Go authored and sponsored in the Senate, then eventually signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2019.

To further help the workers, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development granted each beneficiary with financial assistance through its program for individuals in crisis situations. The Department of Health distributed masks and conducted free medical check-ups while the Department of Agriculture gave away vegetable seeds.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, on the other hand, offered skills training to qualified beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment assessed those who are eligible for their various livelihood and employment programs.

To boost regional development and economic growth, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, also supported the funding of various infrastructure projects in Zamboanga del Sur. Among these are the concreting of various roads around the province; rehabilitation of Flood Control along Lanao - Pagadian - Zamboanga City Road; construction of Multi-Purpose Buildings in Aurora, Dimataling, Dinas, Kumalarang, and Pagadian City; concreting of farm-to-market roads in Dimataling, Dinas, Dumalinao, and Midsalip; installation of highway and street lights in Guipos; improvement of infrastructure and provision of medical equipment to Margosatubig Regional Hospital; and the acquisition of one unit of ambulance for the city of Pagadian.

Go, then, lauded the local government officials for spearheading the pandemic efforts in their communities. Among the officials were 1st District Representative Divina Grace Yu, Governor Victor Yu, Vice Governor Roseller Ariosa, Mayor Eduardo Relacion, Vice Mayor Marlon B. Valenzuela, and other local officials.

Ending his message, Go asked everyone to put the pandemic ahead of the impending elections. During these trying times, he also asked Filipinos to continue to aid one another.

“Mga kababayan ko, focus muna tayo ngayon dito sa pagbabakuna. Mamaya na po ‘yung pulitika dahil baka wala na po tayong pulitikang pag-uusapan ‘pag hindi po natin nalampasan itong krisis na ating kinakaharap. Importante muna focus tayo sa ating pagbabakuna. Focus tayo na malampasan itong krisis na ito,” urged Go.

“Iyon po ang dapat nating isipin parati dahil kapakanan po ng bawat Pilipino ang nakataya dito. Kaya kailangan nating magtulungan, mga kababayan ko,” he ended.

On July 15, Go sent his team to Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur to provide relief and additional aid to 1,500 pandemic-hit workers composed of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association members, event personnel, carinderia and sari-sari store operators and ambulant vendors in the town. (OSBG)