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 in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday, July 21.

In his message to the beneficiaries, Go urged those who are suffering from medical conditions to avail the services of Malasakit Centers in their province or in any of the 130 centers established nationwide.

“Mga kababayan, kung mayroon po kayong mga pasyente, magsabi lang kayo dahil mayro’n tayong 130 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas. Malasakit Center ay batas na ‘yan na aking isinulong noon na pinirmahan ni Presidente Duterte, one-stop shop ‘yan,” said Go.

“Zero balance ang target ng Malasakit Center. Ang Malasakit Center, mayroon na sa loob ng ospital ang PhilHealth, DOH, PCSO at DSWD. Lapitan ninyo lang ‘yang Malasakit Center para talaga ‘yan sa poor and indigent patients, handang tumulong po sa inyong lahat,” he added.

The Malasakit Centers in Zamboanga Del Sur are located at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center in Pagadian City and Margosatubig Regional Hospital in Margosatubig town. These are one-stop shops where Filipinos, particularly poor and indigent patients, can conveniently access medical assistance from concerned government agencies, such as Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

There are now 130 Malasakit Centers in the country since the program was initiated by Go in February 2018, with the latest opened on July 23 at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. 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.

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.

The distribution of assistance was held at the Molave Gymnasium 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.

To further help the workers, representatives from the DSWD 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 Molave including road concreting initiatives.

He also supported projects throughout the province of Zamboanga del Sur, such as various road improvements; 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 ambulance unit for the city of Pagadian.

Go, then, lauded the local government officials for spearheading the pandemic efforts in their communities. Among the officials were Representative Divina Grace Yu and Governor Victor Yu, Mayor Dr. Cyril Glepa, Vice Mayor Monalisa Glepa, and other local officials.

“Mga kababayan ko, ingat po kayo at magdasal tayo parati. Minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na puwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa Pilipino, sa ating kapwa tao, gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” said Go.

“Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay patuloy hong magserserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Dahil para sa amin po ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos,” he ended.

Go's team traveled to the municipalities of Dimataling, Labangan, Aurora, Tambulig, and Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur from July 14 to July 20 to deliver aid to thousands of workers afflicted by the ongoing pandemic. (OSBG)