Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s personnel conducted a series of activities in Kalibo and Banga, Aklan on its first day of relief operations for the residents of the province who are facing various difficulties due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a video message on Tuesday, October 12, Go encouraged authorities and residents to work together to mitigate the spread of the pandemic and minimize its impacts on their community.

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

“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," appealed Go.

His personnel distributed meals, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 5,000 residents at the Barangay Andagao and Kalibo Pilot Elementary School covered courts in Kalibo and Teodocio’s Park in Banga. The activities were conducted in batches to ensure strict adherence to the health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Selected residents received new pairs of shoes while others received bicycles for commuting to work. Some received computer tablets which their children can use for studying at home under the blended learning set-up.

“Huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa dahil hindi kayo pababayaan ng gobyernong ito. Nandito kami ni Pangulong Duterte para magserbisyo sa inyo at siguraduhin na walang maiiiwan sa ating muling pagbangon,” he assured.

As part of a whole-of-government effort to assist individuals in crisis situations, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also handed out financial assistance in a separate distribution. The Department of Agriculture, in turn, provided beneficiary farmers and fisherfolk with livelihood assistance.

On the other hand, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.

“May restaurant po ako pero natigil ito nung nagka-pandemya. Pumunta ako ng Maynila pero wala pa rin akong nahanap na trabaho. Sobrang hirap talaga ngayon kasi kung wala kang diskarte, wala kang mapapakain sa anak mo. Buti nalang at minsan tinutulungan ako ng nanay at mga kapatid ko,” said Eric Machica, 43.

“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Senator Bong Go at sa mabutihing Pangulo natin para sa aming ayudang natanggap. Malaking bagay ito at gagamitin ko po ‘to para sa mga pangangailan ng anak ko,” he continued.

Continuing his message, the senator offered medical assistance to any particularly poor and indigent patients. He advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers program so they can conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government for their hospital bills and other health-related concerns.

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

“So far, we have assisted around three 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 143 Malasakit Centers nationwide, including one in the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo.

The senator ended his message thanking various officials for their continuing dedication, particularly with the challenges over the past year. Among those present were 1st District Representative Carlito Marquez, Governor Florencio Miraflores, Vice Governor Reynaldo Quimpo, Kalibo Mayor Emerson Lachica and Vice Mayor Cynthia Dela Cruz, and Banga Mayor Mayor Erlinda Maming and Vice Mayor Noel Redison.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported many infrastructure initiatives to improve development opportunities and investments in Aklan. They include the reconstruction of the Kalibo Public Market and construction of a new multi-purpose building in Brgy. Tinigaw in Kalibo

Other major initiatives include the construction of roads in Balete and Makato; riverbank protection structures along the Tigayon-Kalibo and Minalezo sections of the Kalibo River; a multi-purpose building for monitoring emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases; two-storey building for the Ibajay District Hospital; multi-purpose buildings in Balete and Buruanga; and evacuation center in Numancia as well as the rehabilitation of the Altavas, Ibajay and Libacao public parks and improvement of the Numancia slaughterhouse.

Last March 1, Go’s team also assisted nine families in Brgy. Balabag in Malay who lost their homes in a fire incident. (OSBG)