PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, in view of the occupational dangers posed by COVID-19, called on local government officials to protect the health and safety of essential workers who continue to show up to work to provide people with the goods and services they require amid the epidemic.

On Wednesday, August 25, Go encouraged officials and residents to work together and aid each other to successfully prevent the spread of the virus and keep their communities safe at a relief operation in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

“Mga kababayan, ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para i-balanse ang kalusugan at ang pangangailangan ninyong magtrabaho para sa inyong mga pamilya. Pero ang pangunahing konsiderasyon pa din natin ay ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” said Go.

“Kaya pakiusap namin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte: maging disiplinado at ‘wag maging kumpiyansa. Magtulungan tayong lahat upang malampasan natin ang krisis na ito. Ang inyong kooperasyon at pakikipagbayanihan ay makapagsasalba ng buhay ng ating kapwa," he appealed.

The Senator’s staff distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 2,700 essential workers at the Titay National High School. The activity was held in batches to ensure all health and safety protocols against COVID-19 were strictly observed.

Go’s team also provided new shoes to some of the recipients, as well as bicycles for their daily commute to work. Other employees received computer tablets, which their children can use for their education.

As part of an ongoing effort by the national government to assist individuals in crisis situations, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided financial assistance. The Department of Health offered medical check-ups and additional masks while the Department of Agriculture gave away vegetable seedlings.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, on the other hand, conducted assessments for its scholarship program. The Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry also committed to extend further aid based on their existing programs upon completing their assessments.

Continuing his message, the Senator promised additional help to those who may require medical attention. He encouraged them to seek the assistance of the Malasakit Center program in order to receive government medical assistance for hospital expenses and other health-related issues.

“Huwag kayong matakot pumunta sa ospital kung wala kayong pera. Nasa loob na ng isang opisina ang mga ahensya na tutulungan kayo para wala na kayong babayaran. Kung may balanseng naiwan, may pondong iniwan din si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para kung kaya ay magiging ‘zero balance’ ang billing niyo,” continued Go.

“So far, we have assisted around two million patients … Wala itong pinipili. Para ito sa mga Pilipino, lalo na sa mga poor at indigent na pasyente,” he assured.

The Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463 which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate. There are currently 137 Malasakit Centers nationwide, including those at the Margosatubig Regional Hospital in Margosatubig and Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur; and at the Zamboanga City Medical Center, Mindanao Central Sanitarium, and Labuan General Hospital in Zamboanga City.

The Senator ended his message thanking various officials for their continued dedication, particularly with the challenges over the past year. Among those present were Representatives Wilter Palma II and Anne Hofer; Governor Wilter Palma; Vice Governor Rey Oligario; and Titay Leonardo B. Talania and Vice Mayor Elizer Yamaro; and other local officials.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has extended his support for numerous infrastructure initiatives in the province to boost economic growth and combat poverty. He helped push for the installation of street lights in Titay; improvement of a drainage canal in Alicia; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Alicia, Buug, Imelda, Ipil, Mabuhay, and Talusan; and construction and improvement of roads in Buug, Diplahan, Imelda, Ipil, Naga, and Olutanga.

He also assisted in the construction of a water system in Imelda, multi-purpose covered courts in Ipil, the acquisition of a mini dump truck and an ambulance unit in Ipil, the construction of a public market in Mabuhay, the construction of an evacuation center in Talusan, and street lighting in Payao.

The Senator's team also carried out similar distribution efforts in Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay on August 16; Diplahan on August 17; Alicia from August 19 to 20; and Mabuhay on August 23; to assist struggling residents. (OSBG)