With recovery efforts still ongoing for victims of Typhoon Ulysses that hit the country last year, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go assured residents of his commitment to help them build back better. His team visited Marikina City on October 14 to provide additional support to rebuilding communities.

The team provided meals, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 331 residents at the Concepcion Integrated School in Barangay Concepcion Uno. They gave selected residents new shoes or bicycles for travelling and computer tablets for their children’s educational needs.

In a separate distribution, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided livelihood assistance under its Sustainable Livelihood Program.

“Salamat po sa DSWD at iba pang ahensya sa mga programa nilang pangkabuhayan. Sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang programang ito, mabibigyan ang mga nangangailangan ng puhunan, tuturuang magnegosyo, at tutulungang palaguin ito,” Go said.

“Mas masarap nga naman ang pakiramdam kapag pinaghirapan at pinagpawisan ang pagnenegosyo sa tamang paraan. Dalhin ninyo ang kita sa inyong mga pamilya at gamitin ito nang tama para makaahon po tayo sa paghihirap na pinagdadaanan natin ngayon,” he added.

In a video message, Go reassured the victims that his office will continue to work with key partners to support recovery efforts. He encouraged local authorities to reach out to him should they need help obtaining assistance from the national government.

“Kagaya ng ipinangako ko noong huli tayo nagkita diyan sa Marikina, babalik ang aming staff para magbigay ng tulong. Patuloy lang tayong magbayanihan, magtulungan at magmalasakit. Sa panahon ng krisis, hindi kami magpapahinga dahil tuluy-tuloy dapat ang pagtulong sa kapwa natin Pilipino,” vowed Go.

To make sure people’s health concerns are addressed, the senator also offered medical assistance to any poor or indigent patient. He advised them to avail of the services of any of the 27 Malasakit Centers in Metro Manila, including the one at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC) in the city, where they may conveniently avail of medical assistance offered by the government.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which primarily aims to help financially incapacitated patients by reducing their hospital bills to the lowest possible amount.

“Nasa loob na ng mga ospital ang mga ahensya na tutulong para maging ‘zero balance’ ang billing niyo. Tuluy-tuloy na itong programa dahil para sa amin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, hindi dapat pinahihirapan ang mga pasyente. Dapat tinulungan natin sila para hindi na nila kailangan pumipila sa iba’t ibang ahensya para makahingi lang ng tulong sa gobyerno,” he explained.

Go went on to remind everyone to abide by the protocols in place to prevent the spread of the pandemic in their area. In the meantime, he reminded those eligible to get their COVID-19 shots and called the attention of local authorities to deploy the doses quickly to ensure that no one is left behind in the path to recovery.

“Mga kababayan, kaunting tiis lang at alam naming nahihirapan kayo. Kailangan natin mag-ingat at hindi natin ma-afford na mapuno ang mga hospital muli at baka bumagsak ang ating health care system,” appealed Go.

“Binabalanse ng gobyerno ang lahat, ang ekonomiya, inyong kabuhayan at kalusugan. Kaya pakiusap namin ni Pangulong Duterte, maging disiplinado at ‘wag maging kumpiyansa. Magtulungan tayong lahat para malampasan natin ang krisis na ito,” he added.

The senator, ending his remarks, thanked the local officials for their hard work and commitment in the past year. He pledged his continuing support, having previously supported the funding for the purchase of new medical equipment for the ARMMC.

His team also conducted a similar activity for 203 other affected families at the same venue last June 17. All activities are carried out in strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

Earlier, Go then explained that despite his vice presidential bid, he remains focused on his duties as a senator and public servant, especially in assisting the government and the general public in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sabi ko nga, mamaya na muna ‘yung pulitika, tapos na ‘yung filing deadline so let’s go back to work. Unahin po natin ‘yung pagseserbisyo para sa ating mga kababayan, nag-aantay po sila sa ating serbisyo,” said Go.(OSBG)