PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go continues to extend support to people in need as they try to overcome the struggles brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, October 22, he sent his team to distribute aid to the communities of Buenavista, Getafe, Inabanga, and Clarin in Bohol.

“Sana po ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. Alam ko pong mahirap po ang panahon ngayon. Nasa krisis po tayo dulot ng COVID-19. Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang po tayo, magbayanihan po tayo at magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” Go expressed in a video message.

Go’s outreach team distributed snacks, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 6,474 beneficiaries. They also gave some residents computer tablets, new pairs of shoes, and bicycles so that they can have better access to basic needs and services.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial assistance in a separate distribution.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority gave potential individuals opportunities to take part in their respective livelihood and scholarship programs based upon their evaluation.

Go’s team conducted four separate relief efforts at the municipal gymnasiums of Getafe and Inabanga, Bisu Clarin Activity Center in Clarin, and Buenavista Community College Covered Court. The said activities were held in batches to ensure all health and safety protocols were strictly observed.

Venancio Badajos, a 52-year-old fisherman, shared in an interview that he struggles to provide for his family especially since there are restrictions caused by the pandemic. He then expressed his optimism that with the help of the government, their community will soon recover from the challenges brought by the national health crisis.

“Senator Bong Go, nagpapasalamat ako na nabigyan mo kami ng tulong dito sa isla ng Buenavista, Bohol. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko na nakatulong kayo sa kahirapan ng pandemya. Maraming salamat, Sir Bong Go,” Badajos said.

To make sure their health concerns are addressed, Senator Go, Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered further assistance and advised the public to avail of the services of the Malasakit Centers at Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City and Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which primarily aims to help patients cover their medical bills.

“Nasa loob ng ospital ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong sa inyo para maging ‘zero balance’ ang inyong billing. Tuloy-tuloy na itong programa dahil para sa amin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, hindi dapat pinahihirapan ang mga pasyente. Dapat tulungan natin sila para hindi na sila pumipila sa iba’t ibang ahensya para makahingi ng tulong sa gobyerno,” explained Go.

Go then encouraged eligible Boholanos to get vaccinated to safeguard themselves against the virus and to help the country attain population protection leading to herd immunity. He also asked the local leaders of each municipality to closely assist their elderly residents as they are more vulnerable to the coronavirus.

Go, as Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported several projects in the province to improve its public service delivery and create more economic opportunities for its constituents.

Among these projects are the acquisition and installation of solar-powered street lights in Getafe; the construction of a multi-purpose building and the concretion of farm-to-market roads in Brgys. Merryland and Cantuba in Buenavista; improvement of a public market and acquisition of a multi-purpose vehicle and a dump truck for the local government of Clarin; and the construction of the municipal slaughterhouse in Inabanga.

Other projects he supported are the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Dauis, Loay, Alicia, Anda, Balilihan, Batuan, Danao, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia-Hernandez, Guindulman, Loon, Valencia and Tagbilaran City; and the improvement of evacuation centers in Panglao, Anda, Balilihan, Carmen, Corella, Garcia-Hernandez and Valencia.

Go then concluded his message by thanking various government officials for their hard work and asked them to continue supporting their most vulnerable constituents during these challenging times. (OSBG)