PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated the urgent need to vaccinate as many people as possible amid the continued threat posed by COVID-19. He emphasized this during a relief effort for micro-entrepreneurs in Victoria, Tarlac on Tuesday, November 9.
In a video message, Go warned that another surge would be especially dangerous, particularly for communities that continue to be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and those who do not have the ability or capacity to work safely from home.
“Binabalanse ng gobyerno ang lahat — kalusugan at ekonomiya — pero mas importante ang buhay ng mga kapatid natin. Kaya suportahan po natin ang ating gobyerno,” said Go.
“Hindi na natin kakayanin na magsarado na naman ang mga negosyo, mapuno na naman ang mga ospital at baka bumagsak ang ating healthcare system. Iyan ang ating iniiwasan. Kaya habang nagpapabakuna kayo, ‘wag tayo magkumpiyansa,” he appealed.
The senator’s staff provided meals, vitamins and masks to a total of 500 micro-entrepreneurs as well as new pairs of shoes to selected beneficiaries. To ensure everyone’s safety, the activity was conducted in batches at the Bulwagang Kalayaan ng Victoria, in compliance with the protocols against COVID-19.
In another distribution, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided livelihood assistance as part of a holistic set of interventions by the government to cushion the adverse effects of the pandemic on vulnerable sectors.
“Salamat po sa DSWD at iba pang ahensya sa mga programa nilang pangkabuhayan. Sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang programang ito, mabibigyan ang mga nangangailangan ng puhunan, tuturuang magnegosyo, at tutulungang palaguin ito,” Go said.
“Mas masarap nga naman ang pakiramdam kapag pinaghirapan at pinagpawisan ang pagnenegosyo sa tamang paraan. Dalhin ninyo ang kita sa inyong mga pamilya at gamitin ito nang tama para makaahon po tayo sa paghihirap na pinagdadaanan natin ngayon,” he added.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go offered assistance to any resident with health-related concerns. He advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital in Tarlac City where they may avail of further aid from the government to cover their hospital and other related expenses.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which makes it convenient to request medical assistance from the relevant agencies, namely, the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The program, which the senator launched in 2018 and subsequently legislated in 2019, has 148 operational centers and assisted more than three million patients nationwide.
