PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called for greater support for vulnerable groups, particularly disaster victims, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic as his team organized a series of activities for the families at risk in Bohol on Monday, August 9.

His team distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to 943 beneficiaries from various sectoral groups at the Panglao Cultural Center, Dauis municipal gym and Barangay Baluarte covered court in Baclayon. They also provided the same aid to 248 storm surge victims at the Loay municipal gym.

Selected beneficiaries were given new shoes while others were provided with bicycles. Others received computer tablets to help their children access educational materials.

In a separate distribution, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.

“Pinanganak po ako dito sa Dauis at dito rin ako bininyagan. Nung una, nagda-drive ako ng multicab pero ngayon wala ng tumatanggap ng labor kaya nangingisda na lang ako para sa pang-araw-araw na sustento namin. Mahirap talaga at gipit na gipit kami. Minsan nga wala kaming bigas! Pero basta may gulay, ok lang at may pang ulam kami,” shared Salvador Pabalan, 67.

“Nagpapalasamat po ako ng malaki kay Senator Bong Go. Hindi ka namin makakalimutan at malaki ang naitulong mo sa amin dito sa Dauis. Maraming salamat po!” Pabalan added.

In a video message to the beneficiaries, the Senator, who is also Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, encouraged those eligible for vaccination to register and get their shots so they can protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

“Mga kababayan, nag-umpisa na po ang pagbabakuna ng mga senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, economic frontliners at mga indigent. Magpabakuna na kayo para protektado kayo at maiiwasan niyo ang mga grabeng sintomas ng COVID-19. Huwag magkumpiyansa at may mas delikadong variant na tinatawag na Delta variant,” said Go.

“Halos araw-araw, tumataas ang kaso sa buong Pilipinas dahil mabilis na kumalat ang variant na ito. Kaya pakiusap namin ni Presidente Duterte, kailangan namin ang kooperasyon ninyo. Ginagawa ang lahat ng ito ng gobyerno para sa kapakanan ninyo,” he continued.

The Senator offered medical assistance to individuals facing health concerns. He advised them to seek medical assistance from the nearest Malasakit Center located at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City or the Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay.

Upon winning a seat in the Senate in 2019, Go had authored and sponsored the measure that eventually became Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

The measure, which the President signed into law in December 2019, consolidates under one roof the government agencies from which poor and indigent patients may avail of medical assistance. The agencies include the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Ending his remarks, Go recognized and thanked various local officials for their leadership and commitment to help constituents overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those were 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto; Governor Arthur Yap; Vice Governor Rene Relampagos; Baclayon Mayor Benecio Uy and Vice Mayor Romulo Balangkig; Dauis Mayor Marietta Sumaylo and Vice Mayor Luciano Bongalos; Loay Mayor Hilario Ayuban and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Cubarol Jr.; and Panglao Mayor Leonila Montero and Vice Mayor Brian Velasco and many more.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go continues to support infrastructure development around the country to improve public service delivery and provide more economic opportunities. For Bohol, he pushed for the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Dauis, Loay, Alicia, Anda, Balilihan, Batuan, Buenavista, Danao, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia-Hernandez, Guindulman, Loon, Valencia and Tagbiliran City; construction or improvement of evacuation centers in Panglao, Anda, Balilihan, Carmen, Corella, Garcia-Hernandez and Valencia; and improvement of existing roads in Baclayon and Loay.

He also supported the construction of slaughterhouses in Loay and Inabanga; improvement of the public markets in Bilar, Clarin, Cogon, Lila and Sagbayan; and construction of a fish port in Jagna, among others.

On Friday, August 6, the Senator’s team likewise distributed relief to 2,305 beneficiaries in Antequera, Batuan, Calape and Catigbian. The beneficiaries consisted of displaced workers and overseas Filipino workers, persons with disabilities, solo parents and habal-habal drivers.

Each activity was conducted in batches to ensure strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)