PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go assured micro-entrepreneurs that the government is ready to help them overcome the COVID-19 crisis in a video message for a series of relief activities in Santiago City and Cordon, Isabela on Tuesday, August 10.

Go added that the government is working hard to balance their health and safety and need to earn a living, and advised them to use responsibly the assistance they received to improve their families’ lives.

“Mga kababayan, magtulungan at magmalasakit tayo sa ating kapwa. Ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat upang mabalanse ang ekonomiya at ang kalusugan at buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.

“Ngayon, tuturuan at bibigyan kayo ng gobyerno ng puhunan sa pagne-negosyo. Palaguin niyo ang inyong negosyo. Masarap sa pakiramdam ‘pag pinaghirapan at pinagpawisan niyo ang inyong kita. Sana gamitin niyo ito sa tama at dalhin niyo ang kita ninyo sa inyong mga pamilya,” continued Go.

The Senator’s team distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 381 micro-entrepreneurs at the Barangay Rizal Community Center in Santiago City and Kapirpiriwan Community Center in Cordon.

Selected beneficiaries received new pairs of shoes. Others were given bicycles so they can travel to work with ease or computer tablets to help their children with their education.

To offset the financial impacts of the pandemic, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed financial assistance through its Sustainable Livelihood Program to help them engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods.

“Dati po akong tricycle driver. Napakahirap nung nagsimula ang pandemya dahil nagpapagatas pa ako nun. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako kukuha ng pera nang natigil ‘yung pasada. Nagpapasalamat ako na kahit papano, may naitulong ang gobyerno sa akin nun. Ginamit ko ‘yun para makapagsimula sa panibagong buhay at bagong negosyo,” said Domingo Lanoria Jr., an online seller from Santiago City.

“Natutuwa ako ngayon dahil mayroon na namang bagong tulong para sa aming nawalan ng trabaho. Idadagdag ko ito sa maliit na negosyo ko para makatulong sa aking pamilya,” he added.

To reduce their risk of having severe symptoms of COVID-19, the Senator offered further assistance to beneficiaries with health-related concerns. He advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers located at the Southern Isabela Medical Center in Santiago City and at the Gov. Faustino N. Dy, Sr. Memorial Hospital in Ilagan City.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail medical assistance from relevant government agencies, namely the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The centers have now benefited more than two million Filipinos nationwide.

“Kamakailan ay naiulat na halos umaabot ng 30% ang pagtaas sa bilang ng mga batang natatamaan ng COVID-19 ayon sa datos ng DOH. Bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Health, ako ay lubhang nababahala kung hindi natin maagapan at magawan ng paraan upang mapigilan ang mabilis na pagtaas ng bilang ng kaso,” continued Go.

“Hirap na nga tayo sa pagkuha ng bakuna para sa may edad dahil sa limitadong supply. Baka kailangang maghanap na naman tayo ng mga bakuna para sa mga menor de edad. Sa patuloy na pananalasa ng mas nakakahawang Delta variant, ako ay umaapela na sundin natin ang mga health protocols,” he appealed.

Ending his message, Go thanked the public officials for their service at this time, specifically 4th District Representative Sheena Tan Dy; Governor Rodolfo Albano III; Vice Governor Faustino Dy III; Santiago City Mayor Joseph Tan; and Cordon Mayor Lynn Zuniega and Vice Mayor Jane Ngipol, among others.

To boost infrastructure development and provide more economic opportunities, the Senator has supported the funding of several projects in Santiago City, including the construction of a flood control structure in Barangays Dubinan East, Nabbuan, Sinsayon, and Santo Domingo.

He also supported other initiatives in Isabela province, such as the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Cauayan, Echague, Naguilian, Quezon, San Pablo and Ilagan City; construction of bridges in Benito Soliven, Jones, Mallig, Ramon, Reina Mercedes, San Guillermo, San Mariano and Ilagan City; and concreting, upgrading or rehabilitation of existing roads throughout the province.

The previous day, August 9, Go’s team distributed aid to 500 typhoon victims in Mallig. The activities were conducted in batches to ensure strict adherence to the government-issued health and safety procotols against COVID-19. (OSBG)