PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains dedicated in bringing much needed support to struggling sectors and communities as the country’s economy slowly starts to progress despite challenges caused by the pandemic.
Thousands of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association members, carinderia and sari-sari store operators, ambulant vendors, and event personnel received aid from Senator Go as he sent his outreach team to Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur on Tuesday, July 20.
In his video message, Go appealed to the 1,500 beneficiaries to take advantage of the vaccination program as this is the country’s key to normalcy. Essential workers are considered part of the A4 priority category of the National Vaccination Program.
“Pakiusap po namin ni Pangulong Duterte sa inyo, lalung-lalo na po ‘pag pasok na kayo sa priority list, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Ito po ang ating proteksyon,” expressed Go.
As of July 21, the Philippines successfully administered 15,953,911 doses of vaccines against COVID-19, few months since the national vaccination program began.
“Kung mahal niyo po ang inyong mga anak, mahal niyo po ang inyong mga pamilya, pakiusap lang po sa inyo, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna, huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna,” he added.
Conducted at the Aurora Municipal Gym, Go’s staff implemented necessary safety and health protocols as they grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches and provided them with meals, masks, face shields, vitamins and other forms of aid.
In addition, select recipients were given new pairs of shoes while others received bicycles that they can use to conveniently commute given that public transportation options remain limited.
Go also sent computer tablets to help the children of some beneficiaries participate better during their classes under the blended learning set-up.
“Sa mga kabataan, sa mga estudyante, mag-aral ho kayo ng mabuti. Bagama’t distance learning tayo ngayon, ang importante po makapagtapos ng pag-aaral ang ating mga kabataan,” said Go.
Go also expressed his gratitude to several government agencies as they extended more support to further help economic frontliners cope with the challenges of the pandemic.
Each beneficiary received financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development while the Department of Agriculture supplied them with vegetable seeds. The Department of Health, in turn, conducted an on-site medical check-up, and provided more supplies of masks.
More so, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment determined potential recipients for their respective livelihood and employment assistance programs.
Finally, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority assessed qualified individuals for the opportunity to join their specialized skills training programs.
“Malaki po ang nawala sa amin simula ng pandemic kaya nagpapasalamat po ako kay Senator Bong Go sa pagbigay po ng ayuda sa aming mga nangangailangan. Napakalaking tulong po nito, lalo na sa pang araw araw naming gastusin,” Marilyn Mendoza, a 65-year-old beneficiary, said in an interview.
The Senator also mentioned in his remarks that the health and well-being of Filipinos remain his priority as he encouraged the beneficiaries to visit the Malasakit Centers in either Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center in Pagadian City or Margosatubig Regional Hospital in Margosatubig if they may need medical assistance.
Signed into law in 2019, the Malasakit Centers Act was principally authored and sponsored by Go. It mandates all DOH-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital to establish their own Malasakit Centers to ensure that poor and indigent patients can conveniently access medical programs offered by DSWD, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
