PASAY CITY -- As Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his appeal to the public to prioritize their health as the fight against COVID-19 continues, and reaffirmed that he will remain committed to providing Filipinos convenient access to quality health care services.

In his video message during the relief activities in Bien Unido, Talibon, and Pitogo in Bohol on Tuesday, October 26, Go offered assistance to those who need medical care and encouraged them to visit any of the two Malasakit Centers in the province.

First established in 2018, the Malasakit Centers are tasked to assist Filipinos, particularly poor and indigent patients, reduce their medical expenses to the lowest amount possible through the help of government agencies with existing medical assistance programs.

The Malasakit Centers in the province are located at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City and the Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay.

Senator Go likewise reminded the public to remain vigilant and compliant with health protocols to curb the spread of the virus as the government continues to acquire safe and sufficient vaccines for Filipinos. He then appealed to the local leaders to closely assist and inoculate the senior citizens in their respective areas as they are known to be more vulnerable to the virus.

“Mga kababayan ko, unti-unti na pong dumarating ang mga bakuna, pinaghirapan po natin itong mga bakunang ito. 'Pag nasa priority list na ho kayo - frontliners, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, economic frontliners, mga delivery boys, indigents, kung nasa priority list na ho kayo, magpabakuna na ho kayo para po protektado ho kayo,” said Go.

“Ang bakuna po ang susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay. Magtiwala lang ho kayo sa gobyerno, mga kababayan ko,” he added.

Go’s team ensured an organized distribution at the respective municipal gymnasiums in Bien Unido and Talibon, and Barangay Poblacion Gymnasium in Pitogo as they strictly enforced safety and health protocols and split the 4,398 beneficiaries into smaller batches.

They then proceeded to distribute meals, masks, face shields and vitamins. The senator’s team also gave new pairs of shoes and bicycles to select residents, as well as computer tablets to help children in their classes under the blended learning set-up.

Meanwhile, various government agencies were also present to distribute other forms of assistance. A team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development granted the recipients with financial assistance to further help them sustain their basic necessities.

The Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority then evaluated individuals for their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

“Sobrang hirap po ngayong pandemya dahil bilang driver, ang hirap po mamasada ngayon. Kaya po laking pasasalamat po sa mga binigay na tulong ni Senator Bong Go, malaking tulong po itong mga natanggap namin ngayon para sa pang-araw-araw,” Rosales Randy, 35, expressed in an interview.

To further boost the local economy and provide more opportunities in the province, Senator Go, who serves as Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of farm-to-market roads in Bien Unido, the construction of bridge connecting Talibon and Bien Unido, and the installation of a coin-operated water system in Pitogo.

He likewise supported the acquisition and installation of solar-powered street lights in Getafe; construction of a multi-purpose building and the concretion of farm-to-market roads 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 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's team previously gave similar forms of assistance to thousands of residents in Buenavista, Getafe, Inabanga, Clarin, Jagna, Anda, and Panglao. (OSBG)