PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated the importance of adhering to the government’s precautionary protocols against COVID-19 during a relief operation organized by his office in Barangays Tawantawan and Wines, Baguio District, Davao City on Saturday, October 23.

“Mga kababayan, kaunting tiis lang. Alam kong 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,” Go began in his video message.

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

As the vaccination rollout gradually opens to the general population, Go reassured residents that the government is exerting all efforts to secure safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for Filipinos. He emphasized that vaccination is significant to overcome the pandemic and would be key to the country’s return to normalcy.

“Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay. Huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna, matakot ho kayo sa COVID-19,” Go said.

“Nakikiusap din po ako sa mga LGUs, sa ating national government, magtulungan po tayo. Kung kailangan po, suyurin natin ‘yung mga senior citizens para protektado sila,” he added.

The senator’s team provided meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 1,000 beneficiaries at the Tawantawan High School Gymnasium in Brgy. Tawantawan and Brgy. Wines Gymnasium.

They also gave select residents new pairs of shoes and bicycles for their daily commute. They also gave away computer tablets, an important educational tool, to help children under the blended learning set-up.

In addition, staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed financial assistance as part of a holistic approach to address the adverse impact of the pandemic on vulnerable sectors.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority then conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

Senator Go, who also serves as the Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered his help to poor and indigent patients and advised them to visit the Malasakit Center located at Southern Philippines Medical Center located in the city where they can conveniently access medical assistance programs by the government.

Principally authored and sponsored by Go and enacted into law in 2019, the Malasakit Centers Act mandates all hospitals administered and managed by the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital to establish their Malasakit Centers that will assist Filipinos with their medical expenses.

As Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported several initiatives in the city that aim to help its economic recovery, including he construction of multi-purpose buildings in Brgys. Ilang, Mintal, Panacan, San Antonio, Tigatto, Waan, Pampanga, and Gov. Vicente Duterte; and the construction of drainage systems in Brgys. Mintal, Mudiang, Wilfredo Aquino, Ubalde, Buhangin Proper, Centro, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper, and Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr.

Furthermore, he also supported the construction of multi-purpose buildings within the compound of SPMC Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and in the City Library Complex; acquisition of ambulance units and the construction of 300-bed capacity infectious disease building in SPMC; acquisition of a multi-purpose vehicle and a mini dump truck in Brgys. Callawa, Panacan, Lapu-Lapu, and Cabantian; and construction of drainage systems in Brgys. Centro, Agdao, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper, Tomas Monteverde Sr. Agdao, and Mintal.

Go then expressed his gratitude towards the local officials of the city for their continuing efforts to ensure that their constituents are well-supported especially during crisis situations.

Go’s team previously provided similar assistance to more Davaoeños in Brgys. Baguio Proper, Malagos, Cadalian, Carmen, and Matina Crossing. (OSBG)