PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continued his efforts to help more Filipinos whose livelihoods have been affected due to the national health crisis. His team, in partnership with concerned agencies, conducted two distribution activities for hundreds of residents in Linamon and Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte on Wednesday, October 27.

With necessary safety and health protocols in place, Senator Go’s outreach team provided meals, masks, face shields and vitamins to 667 beneficiaries at the Linamon Municipal Gymnasium and Magsaysay Municipal Hall.

They also gave computer tablets to some residents to help their children easily access educational materials, as well as new pairs of shoes and bicycles.

Apart from the assistance given by Senator Go, the Department of Labor and Employment extended aid to each displaced worker through their Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Agriculture gave financial assistance and plant seeds, respectively, to the residents of Magsaysay.

The Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, conducted an on-site assessment in Magsaysay where qualified individuals may take part in their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go urged the public to support and trust the national vaccination program and encouraged eligible residents to get inoculated immediately to protect them from COVID-19.

“Kapag nandiriyan na po kayo sa priority list, magpabakuna na po kaagad kayo. Ang bakuna po ang susi o solusyon upang unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay. Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna, huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna. Matakot ho kayo sa COVID-19," he emphasized.

Go then offered additional assistance to those in need of medical attention. He informed them that they may conveniently seek medical assistance at Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital in Iligan City, or Kapatagan Provincial Hospital in Kapatagan, where there are Malasakit Centers available to assist them with their hospital and other medical related expenses.

As part of his commitment to improve the country’s health care services, Go primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 that mandates all hospitals managed and administered by the Department of Health, plus Philippine General Hospital, to establish Malasakit Centers to assist particularly poor and indigent patients reduce their medical expenses to lowest amount possible.

“Mayroon na ho tayong 146 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa mga poor and indigent patients, zero balance po ang target po ng Malasakit Center,” said Go.

As Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, Go helped facilitate the development of the province by supporting various projects, including the construction of a public market and a multi-purpose building, rehabilitation of Farmers Training Center, and the concreting of farm-to-market roads in Magsaysay.

Other projects he supported include the provision of new medical equipment for Gregorio T. Lluch Hospital in Iligan City; construction of farm-to-market roads in Bacolod, and Lala; road rehabilitation in Munai; purchase of one ambulance unit in Kapatagan; construction of flood control and drainage structure in Lala; and rehabilitation of public markets in Magsaysay; and construction of multi-purpose buildings in Kauswagan, Iligan City, Nunungan, Pantao Ragat, Pantar, Salvador, Tangcal, and Tubod.

“Magtulungan lang po tayo. Sino ba naman ang magtutulungan kundi tayo lang po kapwa natin Pilipino,” he said.

“Basta kami ni Pangulong Duterte, patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil para sa amin, ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po 'yan sa Diyos,” he ended. (OSBG)