PASAY CITY -- As the government continues to fast-track the rollout of vaccines especially to priority groups in the A4 category, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, July 20, urged essential workers and small business owners to get vaccinated in order to protect themselves while helping the local economy recover.

Go made the appeal in a message at a relief effort at the Lingayen municipal gym held from July 20 to 21, during which he also called on authorities to ensure the necessary mechanisms are in place so the vaccines can be deployed in a timely and orderly manner in various parts of the country especially in critical areas.

“Inatasan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang [Inter-Agency Task Force] na unahin ‘yung mga lugar na tumataas ‘yung kaso para ma-stabilize ang sitwasyon. Kaya bawat bakuna na napapadala sa inyo, dapat i-deploy at iturok kaagad ito para ‘di masayang at protektado ang ating mga kababayan,” said Go.

“Huwag tayo maging kumpiyansa. Kailangan namin ang tulong ng bawat Pilipino. Kailangan disiplinado tayo hangga’t hindi pa natin nakakamtan ang population protection. Target natin ‘yan ngayong taon para masaya naman ang ating Pasko,” he added.

To address their needs, the Senator’s staff provided meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 5,247 beneficiaries, composed of tourism workers, fishermen, market vendors, pedicab operators, and members of the local Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association.

Select beneficiaries were given new shoes while others were provided bicycles for their commuting needs. Some also received computer tablets which their children can use while studying at home under the blended learning set-up.

Furthermore, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development was likewise present and provided each beneficiary with financial assistance in a separate distribution.

To ensure everyone’s health and safety, the activities were carried out in batches and in strict observance of the protocols against COVID-19. A similar operation was also held in Villasis town last June 12, during which Go’s staff provided aid to 2,805 market vendors and TODA members.

“Maraming salamat kay Senator Bong Go at sa mga ahensya na nagbigay ng tulong dito sa Pangasinan. Minsan wala kaming trabaho dito, pa-extra-extra lang kami. Ibibili ko ng grocery ang natanggap ko na pera at ‘yung natitira gagamitin ko pang-negosyo ng balut. Dati na akong nagtitinda pero natigil lang dahil mahina ang benta at mahal ang pamasahe ngayon,” said Olivar Bartolome, 42, a polio survivor.

“Hindi ako makapagbenta sa bayan dahil may pandemic at bawal akong pumunta doon. Sana matulungan ng Pangulo at Senator Bong kaming mga (persons with disabilities) para may trabaho o pang-negosyo kami,” he appealed.

Continuing his message, the Senator also offered assistance to residents needing medical care and further advised them to visit the Malasakit Center located at the Region 1 Medical Center.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where patients may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the relevant government agencies, namely the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The program was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored. There are now 130 Malasakit Centers established nationwide.

To end, Go thanked various officials for providing for the needs of their most vulnerable constituents, namely 2nd District Representative Jumel Espino, Governor Amado Espino III, Vice Governor Mark Lambino, Mayor Bataoil, and Vice Mayor Judy Vargas-Quiocho.

He also thanked Councilors Mac Malicdem, Jay Mark Crisostomo, John Tapia, Jonathan Arcinue, Sheila Castañeda, Ramon Cuaresma, Randall Bernal, and Ricardo Ferrer.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senator earlier supported the funding for the construction of a dialysis center in Lingayen, purchase of medical equipment for the Lingayen District Hospital, and acquisition of an ambulance for the municipal government.

He also supported various infrastructure projects in Pangasinan, such as the concreting of farm-to-market and local roads in Aguilar, Mangaldan, Natividad, Alaminos City and Dagupan City; rehabilitation of existing roads in Balungao, Pozorrubio, San Jacinto and Umingan; construction of drainage or concrete line canals in Anda, Asingan and Alaminos City; construction of slope protection structures along the Cabatuan River in Bugallon and Marusay River in Calasiao; and rehabilitation and construction of a flood control structure in the Dagupan river.

Other additional projects include the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Binmaley, Burgos and Pozorrubio; construction of market stalls in San Quintin; upgrading of public markets in Dagupan City; construction of a maternal lying clinic in Dagupan City; purchase of medical equipment for the Western Pangasinan District Hospital in Alaminos City and Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug; and acquisition of ambulances and dump trumps for Mangaldan and a multi-purpose vehicle in Urdaneta City.

“Ang hiling ko lang sana suportahan natin ang ating tatay Digong sa kanyang laban. Iisa po ang nais nating gawin bilang kapwa Pangasinenses, yon ay ang para sa kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino,” Go previously said to fellow Pangasinenses.

Go became an adopted son of the province of Pangasinan through a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and approved by Governor Amado Espino III on December 18, 2018. The resolution said the province recognizes the exceptional capability of Go in public administration to inspire every local leader in the implementation of their worthy programs and projects.

“Makakaasa po kayo na patuloy akong tutulong sa Pangasinan,” he also said earlier. (OSBG)