PASAY CITY -- As he sent assistance to hundreds of locals in Santa Fe and Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya on Tuesday, July 27, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged the local government units to make sure that they immediately inoculate their eligible residents in accordance to the vaccination guidelines once vaccines are available in their community.

Through his virtual message, Go appealed to the 188 beneficiaries in Sta. Fe and 223 in Aritao, to stay cooperative and compliant with necessary health preventive measures as the government continues to strive to provide sufficient vaccines for the Filipinos.

Go also requested the residents to participate in the national vaccination program as the vaccines are the country’s key to normalcy, saying, “Ang atin pong minimithi ay population protection at herd immunity po para hindi na po kumalat ang sakit na COVID-19.”

The Senator’s outreach team conducted two separate distribution activities at their respective municipal gymnasiums where they fully enforced all safety protocols and grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches while they received relief items, such as meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins.

Go also granted some beneficiaries with new pairs of shoes and bicycles that they can use to ease their commute situation. Others received computer tablets that are intended to help their children easily access educational materials for their classes.

To further boost their living conditions amid the global pandemic, the Department of Social Welfare and Development evaluated beneficiaries who will be given livelihood assistance through their Sustainable Livelihood Program.

“Noong wala pa pong pandemic, malakas po ang ang aking kita. Pero nung nagkaroon po ng pandemya, nawalan po talaga ako ng kita. Kaya maraming salamat po sa tulong na ibinigay po sa pamilya ko lalo na at may anak po akong disabled,” said Zenaida Sagun, 65.

As part of his advocacy to provide Filipinos convenient access to healthcare services, Go encouraged the beneficiaries, or their loved ones, to visit the Malasakit Center in Region II Trauma and Medical Center in Bayombong if they have medical concerns.

Signed into law in 2019, the Malasakit Centers Act seeks to provide Filipinos convenient access to medical programs as it mandates all hospitals managed and administered by the Department of Health plus the Philippine General to establish their own Malasakit Centers.

“Alam ko pong nahihirapan po kayo, kami rin po ni Pangulong Duterte ay nahihirapan din po. Subalit kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin para magtrabaho pa po at magserbisyo po para sa inyong lahat upang malampasan po natin itong krisis na ating kinakaharap sa ngayon,” expressed Go.

Go, who is the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of potable water supply in Brgys. Baliling and Bacneng in Sta. Fe, as part of his efforts to help in its economic development.

The Senator also helped in the funding of more infrastructure projects in the province, such as the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Bambang, and Villaverde; construction of municipal buildings in Kayapa; construction of an evacuation center in Dupax del Sur; road improvement in Ambaguio, Diadi, Dupax del Norte, and Kayapa; and the acquisition of a dump truck and a multi-purpose vehicle in Quezon.

Concluding his message, he gave recognition to Representative Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, Governor Carlos Padilla, Vice Governor Jose “Tam-an” Tomas, Sta. Fe Mayor Tidong Benito and Vice Mayor Jonathan Tindaan, Aritao Mayor Remelyn Peros and Vice Mayor Ruben Sayo, and other local government officials for their immeasurable support to their constituents, especially during these unprecedented times. (OSBG)