PASAY CITY -- On Thursday, October 21, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go reassured vulnerable Malay residents in Aklan that the government is working hard to speed up the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in order to stem the pandemic.

Go emphasized in a video message that getting vaccinated lowers the risk of experiencing serious symptoms and being admitted to the hospital. Wanting to ensure the success of the national immunization strategy, he also reminded local governments to raise awareness and address hesitancy in their communities.

“Habang patuloy tayong nagbabakuna, ‘wag tayo maging kumpiyansa dahil delikado itong COVID-19. Target natin ma-achieve ang population protection this year at ang herd immunity by early next year para unti-unti na natin fully mabuksan ang ekonomiya. Iyan ang hiling namin palagi ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte,” said Go.

“Ang importante, buhay tayo at malampasan natin ang pandemyang ito. Hindi ito kaya ng ating gobyerno kung hindi tayo magmalasakit at magbayanihan,” he added.

As of October 21, the country has already administered a total of 54.44 million COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 29.34 million Filipinos have received their single dose while 25.1 million have been fully vaccinated. The country has received a total of 93.67 million COVID-19 jabs, as of October 21.

His staff distributed meals, vitamins, masks, and face shields in batches to a total of 5,226 residents at the Balosbos covered court in Malay. They gave selected residents new shoes and bicycles for necessary travel, as well as computer tablets for blended learning activities.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided each resident with financial assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. The Department of Agriculture also handed out separate financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk under the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program.

On the other hand, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted assessments of residents seeking livelihood and skills training opportunities.

The senator, who is Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, also offered assistance to those who require treatment in the bigger hospitals in Metro Manila. He advised them to seek further aid from the government through the Malasakit Center located at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo.

The Malasakit Center aims to make medical assistance programs more accessible by putting together the concerned agencies under one roof. These agencies are the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Its primary task is to reduce a hospital bill to the lowest amount possible by covering various patient services and expenses, pursuant to the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate.

“Kaya ayaw magpa-check-up at lumalala ang kondisyon ng mga Pilipino dahil wala silang pambayad. Kung may hindi kayang operahan diyan, magsabi lang kayo sa ospisina namin at kami na ni Pangulo ang sasalo sa inyo. Huwag kayo mag-atubiling lumapit dahil ‘yan naman ang trabaho namin, ang makatulong,” he reassured.

Concluding his message, the senator thanked 2nd District Representative Teodorico Haresco Jr., Governor Florencio Miraflores, Vice Governor Reynaldo Quimpo, Malay Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista and Acting Vice Mayor Niño Carlos Cawaling for working to help those hit hardest by the pandemic.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has support several initiatives to enhance access to public services and foster economic growth in Aklan. Among these are construction of local roads in Makato and an evacuation center and a slaughterhouse in Numancia.

Other major initiatives include the construction of roads in Balete; 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; a two-storey building for the Ibajay District Hospital; and multi-purpose buildings in Balete and Buruanga. He also supported the rehabilitation of the Altavas, Ibajay, and Libacao public parks.

Go’s staff also recently provided relief to thousands of residents in Altavas, Balete, Banga, Batan, Kalibo, Lezo, Libaco, Madalag, Makato, Malinao, New Washington, and Numancia. The activities were carried out in batches to ensure the strict enforcement of the health and safety protocols. (OSBG)