PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reminded workers and small business owners of the importance of adhering to the government's precautionary protocols in avoiding lockdowns and other tighter restrictions during a relief mission organized by his office in Liloan, Southern Leyte.
"Sa akoang mga kaigsuonan dinha sa Liloan, Southern Leyte, kamusta man mo sa tanan vendors, [persons with disabilities]? Naa lang mi gamay na hinabang sa inyo. Magtinabangay lang ta. Kinsa magtinabangay, kita lang man mga kaigsuonan natong mga Pilipino. Ug pinalangga mo namo ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte," Go began in a video message.
(Trans: "Sa aking mga kababayan dyan sa Liloan, Southern Leyte, kumusta po kayong lahat dyan, mga vendors, PWDs? Meron lang akong konting tulong para sa inyo. Sino ba naman ang magtutulungan kundi tayong mga kapwa Pilipino. Mahal namin kayo ni Presidente Duterte.")
"Kailangan namin ang kooperasyon at disiplina ng bawat Pilipino sa panahong ito. Tingnan n’yo ‘yung mga ibang lugar, lumuluwang ang restrictions nila ‘pag na-stabilize ang sitwasyon doon. Kaya pag-ingatan natin ang ating kalusugan. Kailangan nating magtulungan para malampasan natin ang krisis na ito,” he continued.
The Senator’s team provided meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 1,000 beneficiaries at the Liloan covered court from July 16-17. The beneficiaries were composed of market vendors and members of the local Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association.
Select recipients also received new pairs of shoes so they can work comfortably, while others were provided bicycles for their daily commute. Some were given computer tablets, an important educational tool, to help their children under the blended learning set-up.
In addition, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed financial assistance as part of a holistic set of intervention measures by the government to cushion the impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable sectors.
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.
Continuing his message, Go reassured residents that the government is exerting all efforts to secure safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for all Filipinos. He added that the vaccine program will be expanded to essential workers and indigent residents under the A4 and A5 priority groups as soon as a sufficient supply of vaccine doses arrive.
To help ensure their health and well-being in the meantime, the Senator offered his help to poor or indigent patients and advised them to visit the Malasakit Center located at the Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital in Maasin City.
The Malasakit center which was enacted into law in 2019 through a measure that Go authored and sponsored in the Senate, is a one-stop shop which provides Filipinos convenient access to the medical assistance offered by the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
“Mayroon akong maliit na sari-sari store. Nagtitinda ako ng mga pangangailangan sa kusina, gaya ng oil at toyo. Noong wala pa ang pandemya, nakakaya pa namin ang mga pangangailangan namin pero ngayon, wala ng trabaho ang pamilya ko. Hindi na kami nakakaipon gaya nun,” said Lara Lochico, 24.
“Kay Senator Bong, maraming salamat sa ibinigay mong tulong. Malaking bagay ‘yan sa mga katulad namin. Kay President Duterte, maraming salamat din at tumutulong ka sa amin. Gagamitin ko ang nakuha kong ayuda mula sa gobyerno para sa araw-araw namin na pagkain,” she added.
