PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains committed to help struggling Filipinos cope with the challenges of the pandemic as his staff embarked on a two-day relief effort for 2,400 indigent families in Lucena City, Quezon.

Go’s outreach team strictly implemented safety and health protocols and divided the recipients into smaller groups from November 10 to 12. Go’s staff conducted the distribution activities at the Quezon Convention Center where they handed out meals, masks and vitamins to the beneficiaries.

“Sana po’y nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. Alam ko pong mahirap po ang panahon ngayon, nasa gitna tayo ng krisis dulot ng COVID-19. Kailangan pong magtulungan tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, at magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” greeted Go in a video message.

Select residents also received new pairs of shoes and bicycles that they can use. Other residents were given computer tablets to help children with their education under the blended learning approach.

Staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended further aid by granting each beneficiary with financial assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography further offered assistance to those with health concerns and advised them to visit the nearest Malasakit Center at Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City.

The Malasakit Centers Act which Go authored and sponsored in the Senate was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019. Under the said measure, it mandates all hospitals run by the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital to establish Malasakit Centers to assist indigent patients lower their medical expenses.

“Kung kailangan n’yo po ng tulong sa Heart Center sa Maynila, magsabi lang ho kayo. Tutulungan ho namin kayo. Kami na ho ang sasagot sa inyong pagpapaospital kung kakailanganin pong dalahin sa Maynila,” expressed Go.

Go also appealed to the beneficiaries to take part in the vaccination program and mentioned that vaccination is the key for the country to return to normalcy. He then called on the local government officials to immediately deploy doses to priority groups to achieve the nation’s target of achieving herd immunity.

“Nasa datos naman po, ‘pag kayo po’y bakunado mas protektado po kayo sa pagkasakit ng COVID-19 o ito pong grabeng pagkasakit ng COVID-19 at maiiwasan po ang pagkamatay ‘pag kayo po ay protektado. Ang bakuna lamang ang tanging susi o solusyon sa ngayon upang unti-unti tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” said Go.

To boost the economic opportunities and further improve the delivery of public services in Quezon, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the Rehabilitation of Old Quezon Capitol Building; construction of a multipurpose building at the Lucena City General Hospital; concreting and construction of roads; and the construction of slope protection in Lucena City.

He also supported the improvements of Gumaca Bypass Road; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Alabat, Candelaria, General Nakar, Infanta, Lucban and Mauban; improvement and rehabilitation of roads in Alabat, Candelaria, Calauag, Dolores, Lopez, Lucban, San Antonio and Tiaong-Dolores; conversion of the current Municipal Health Center of Lucban, Quezon to Municipal Infirmary Hospital in Lucban; construction of slope protection in Sariaya; and the construction of Ospital ng San Antonio in San Antonio.

Go thanked the provincial, local, and barangay officials for extending their support to their community as they continue to recover amid the global pandemic.

“Mga kababayan ko, alam kong mahirap ang panahon ngayon. Humihingi lang kami ng tulong sa inyo ni Pangulong Duterte, kailangan namin ang inyong kooperasyon at disiplina,” Go ended.

In 2019, Go was declared an adopted son of the CALABARZON region in a manifesto issued by the governors of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. They cited his many years of service under President Duterte and “heart for his country” through the various projects he initiated which have benefited millions of Filipinos. (OSBG)