PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's office offered relief and further aid to 1,500 workers whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic in Tambulig, Zamboanga Del Sur on Monday, July 20. These included members of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association, event personnel, carinderia and sari-sari store owners, and ambulant vendors.
"Sa Zamboanga del Sur, mga kapatid kong taga-Mindanao… sana ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. Alam kong mahirap ang panahon ngayon dahil marami ang nawalan ng trabaho, marami ang nagsara ang negosyo. Magtulungan lang tayo mga kababayan, malalampasan natin ito basta magtulungan tayo. Sino pa ba ang magtutulungan kundi tayo ring mga kapwa Pilipino,” said Go in a video message.
Go called for patience, vigilance and continued cooperation among Filipinos as the government presses ahead for population protection and eventually herd immunity by fast-tracking the rollout of vaccines across the country.
“Mga kababayan, magtiwala lang kayo sa bakuna, huwag kayong matakot sa bakuna. Ang bakuna ang susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” he said.
He encouraged those belonging in priority sectors such as economic frontliners to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to protect themselves from the virus and help their communities recover from the crisis.
“Pakiusap lang namin, kapag nasa priority list na kayo, magpabakuna na sana kayo, para dahan-dahan na nating makamtan ang population protection and herd immunity, para maging masaya naman ang ating Pasko ngayong taon. Basta mag-ingat lang kayo. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat,” he added.
Go’s staff held the distribution of assistance at the Tambulig Gym where they gave out meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins to the beneficiaries. The distribution activity was held in small batches to ensure necessary health and safety protocols were strictly followed.
Selected recipients were also given new pairs of shoes while others were given bicycles. Other recipients received computer tablets, which would allow their children to access educational materials and participate more actively in blended learning classes.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave each beneficiary financial assistance through its program for individuals in crisis situations. The Department of Health handed out masks and provided free medical check-ups, while the Department of Agriculture offered vegetable seeds.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, on the other hand, provided qualified beneficiaries with skills training. The Departments of Trade and Industry, and Labor and Employment evaluated those eligible for their various livelihood and employment programs.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Senator Bong Go at kay Pangulong Duterte. Maraming salamat sa inyong ibinigay na tulong,” Dina Maghinay, one of the beneficiaries, said.
The Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, then, assured 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.
