PASAY CITY -- More struggling communities and economic sectors continue to benefit from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s relief efforts as, recently, his team distributed assistance in the province of Leyte for 400 and 1,000 beneficiaries in the towns of Tabontabon and Dagami, respectively, on Thursday, August 12.

Conducted at their respective municipal gymnasiums, Go’s team ensured a well-organized distribution as they implemented necessary safety and health protocols and grouped the recipients, who are comprised of market vendors and Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association members, into smaller batches while they handed out meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins.

Some beneficiaries received computer tablets that are intended to aid their children who are pursuing education under the blended learning set-up as part of Go’s advocacy to provide underprivileged students access to quality education.

More forms of assistance were given by several government agencies as representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development granted the market vendors financial assistance.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority assessed individuals who are qualified to take part in their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

In his video message, Go reminded the beneficiaries to look after their health and well-being, especially at this time of health crisis. He further emphasized the need for convenient access to medical assistance programs for the particularly poor and indigent patients as he mentioned that there are four Malasakit Centers in the province of Leyte that they may visit if they need help from government to settle their medical expenses.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

“Zero balance po ang target ng Malasakit Center. Para po sa mga poor and indigent patients ang Malasakit Center, para po ‘yan sa Pilipino. Lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center, handang tumulong po ‘yan sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino,” said Go.

The Malasakit Centers in Leyte are located at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City; Leyte Provincial Hospital, and Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital in Palo; and Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc.

“Kung mayro’n ho kayong mga pasyente sa (Philippine) Heart Center, sa NKTI, sa Maynila, magsabi lang po kayo. Nandirito lang po kami ni Pangulong Duterte na handang tumulong po sa inyo,” he added.

As part of his commitment to improve the delivery of health services in the province, the Senator previously sponsored and successfully pushed for the passage of two measures in the Senate which sought to increase the bed capacity of the EVRMC and convert the SCRH into the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital.

Go then asked the public for vigilance as the government continues to acquire safe and sufficient vaccines for Filipinos. He reminded them to strictly adhere to health preventive measures to avoid the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The Senator appealed to the local officials of Tabontabon and Dagami, and their constituents to remain cooperative with the national government in ending the pandemic and to participate in the nationwide vaccination program as this is the country’s key to normalcy.

“Kailangan po ang tulong, kailangan po ang kooperasyon, kailangan po ang disiplina ng bawat isa. Huwag maging kumpiyansa. Pakiusap po namin ni Pangulong Duterte, kahit bakunado na po kayo huwag pa ring maging kumpiyansa dahil hindi natin masabi, ‘yung hindi pa bakunado ay maaaring mahawa,” Go expressed.

A market vendor and a mother of five children, Mary Ann Juyad shared her experience and challenges since the pandemic started as she mentioned that the health crisis caused her to struggle to provide for her family.

Juyad then extended her gratitude towards Senator Go and President Rodrigo Duterte, saying “Para po kay President Duterte, nagpapasalamat po kami dahil po sa kabila ng nararanasan natin, nanatili po siyang matatag at gumagawa ng paraan para matulungan po kami. Gayundin po kay Senator Bong Go, salamat po dahil palagi kang nakikinig sa mga hinaing namin. Maliit man sa paningin ng iba, malaking tulong po itong binigay niya sa samin.”

Go then thanked Representative Lolita Javier, Governor Mic Petilla, Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, Tabontabon Mayor Efren Redona and Vice Mayor Ariel Justimbaste, Dagami Mayor Abundio “Deo” Delusa and Vice Mayor Antonio Diaz, and other local officials for their unending support to their community during these challenging times.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go extended his support in various infrastructure projects in the province as part of his commitment to boosting its economic progress amid the pandemic.

Among the projects are the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Abuyog, Alangalang, Babatngon, Carigara, Dagami, Isabel, Jaro, La Paz, Sante Fe, and Tolosa; construction and improvement of evacuation centers in Abuyog, and Merida; construction of control projects in Alangalang, Baybay City, Javier, Tanauan, and Tolosa; and acquisition of dump trucks in Inopacan, Isabel, and Villaba.

From August 10 to 11, Go’s outreach team conducted similar distribution activities for more struggling communities in the towns of Alangalang, Tolosa, Dulag, Babatngon, and Julita.  (OSBG)