PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized that as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to burden the lives and livelihoods of many Filipino families, he renewed his commitment to fight for better public service delivery amid the challenges of the ongoing health crisis.
His team organized a relief activity for indigent households in Caloocan City on July 27 and 29. Go’s staff distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 2,040 households at the Grace Park Elementary School in Barangay 52. The activity was carried out in batches to ensure the necessary protocols against COVID-19 were strictly observed.
Selected beneficiaries also received new shoes while others were provided bicycles so they can commute with ease. Some households were given computer tablets which their children can use for their educational activities under the blended learning approach.
In addition, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided financial assistance in a separate distribution to alleviate the impacts of the pandemic.
”Nagpapasalamat ako kay Senator Bong Go at Presidente Rodrigo Duterte para sa malaking tulong nila sa pamilya ko. Gagamitin namin to pagkain at mga gastusin sa bahay. Mahirap ang buhay dahil sa pandemya. Nawalan ako ng trabaho at ang panganay na anak ko na ang nagtatrabaho pero may nagbibigay naman ng tulong sa amin galing sa munisipiyo,” shared Wilfredo Oquendo, 51.
To further ensure their health and well-being, the Senator advised beneficiaries with medical concerns to visit the Malasakit Center at the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in the said city or any of the other 25 available locations in Metro Manila.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which provides poor and indigent patients convenient access to medical assistance offered by the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Go principally authored and sponsored the measure that became Republic Act No. 11463 which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
“Mga kababayan, may kaunting tulong akong pinadala sa inyo para mas mabilis kayong makabangon muli. Lahat po ng Pilipino ay may karapatan magkaroon ng maayos na tirahan kaya bilang Senador, naghain ako ng mga panukala para wala nang maging squatter sa ating bayan,” Go told the beneficiaries in a video message.
In recognition of every Filipino’s right to decent housing, Go filed Senate Bill No. 203 or the National Housing Development, Production and Financing Bill in 2019 which seeks to mobilize a comprehensive national housing plan to accelerate low-cost housing production in the country.
He also filed SBN 1227 or the Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act in the same year which will provide families displaced by disasters with improved access to the housing market by offering a rental subsidy.
“Ngayon na patuloy ang paglaban natin sa pandemya, mas lumala ang kalagayan ng mga Pilipino. Madalas, mas takot pa ang ating mga kababayan na mawalan ng matitirahan kaysa magkaroon ng COVID-19. Hindi po tama ito,” he added.
In the end, he reminded everyone to stay vigilant against the spread of new and more contagious variants of the coronavirus which could trigger a surge in new cases. Go stressed the need to get vaccinated in order to build immunity against the disease and slow down its spread.
“Huwag tayo maging kumpiyansa habang patuloy tayong nagbabakuna. Inuulit ko, disiplina ang kailangan. Sumunod tayo sa mga paalala ng gobyerno at kung hindi naman kailangan ay ‘wag munang umalis ng pamamahay dahil delikado pa ang panahon,” appealed Go.
“Kaunting tiis lang. Alam namin na nahihirapan kayo. Nahihirapan din kami ni Pangulong Duterte subalit kayo ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin para magtrabaho pa upang malampasan natin itong krisis. Magbayanihan at magmalasakit tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” he continued.
The Senator went on to thank various officials for their dedicated service to their constituents and stakeholders, including Council for the Welfare of Children Undersecretary Mitch Cajayon-Uy, 1st District Representative Dale Malapitan, Mayor Oscar Malapitan and the barangay chairs of Caloocan City.
Last July 7, his team also organized an activity for 204 displaced workers at the Kaunlaran Elementary School in Caloocan City. Go also supported the funding for the construction of a multi-purpose building in Barangays 171 and 175 as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. (OSBG)
