PASAY CITY -- Spenator Christopher “Bong” Go’s outreach team returned to North Cotabato on Tuesday, November 9, for another round of relief distributions, this time for the marginalized workers in Banisilan who have experienced income losses or whose employers have ceased to operate due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team provided meals, vitamins and masks to a total of 521 beneficiaries at an open venue near the municipal hall. They also gave away new pairs of shoes, bicycles, and computer tablets for children's educational use.

In addition, personnel from the Department of Labor and Employment paid each beneficiary their wages for the service they rendered to their communities under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program of the agency.

In a video message, the senator acknowledged the devastating impacts of the pandemic on daily wage and low-income workers. He explained that recovery would not be assured until the pandemic is beaten by having enough people vaccinated and the rate of transmission drastically curtailed.

“Alam ko na mahirap ang panahon ngayon dahil nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya. Marami sa inyo ang nawalan ng trabaho at alam ko may mga pamilya kayong pinapakain. Huwag kayong mag-alala dahil unti-unti rin tayo babalik sa normal na pamumuhay,” said Go.

“Pakiusap, konting tiis lang. Kailangan namin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang kooperasyon ninyo upang malampasan natin ang krisis na ‘to. Target natin ma-achieve ang herd immunity ngayong taon para makabalik na tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” he added.

The senator offered further medical assistance to poor and indigent patients and informed them of the Malasakit Center located at the Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Kidapawan City, where they can avail of further aid from relevant government agencies.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which provides convenient access to the medical assistance programs of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. It seeks to reduce a patient’s hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various medical services and expenses.

In the end, Go thanked Governor Nancy Catamco, Vice Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, and Mayor Jesus Alisasis for their service to their constituents.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported various initiatives which seek to improve underserved communities’ access to better jobs and other economic opportunities.

He supported the concreting of the Macapagal Street in Barangay Poblacion I in Banisilan; concreting of farm-to-market and other roads in Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap, President Roxas and Kidapawan City; construction of bridges in Arakan, Kabacan, Makilala, Tulunan and Kidapawan City; construction or rehabilitation of drainage canals in Kabacan and Pikit; and construction of potable water system facilities in Tulunan.

Other initiatives he supported include the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Arakan, Makilala, Tulunan and Kidapawan City; barangay halls in Matalam and Midsayap; a Liga office in Makilala; and a slaughterhouse and a public market in Arakan. He also supported the improvement of a public market building in Pigcawayan, and the COVID-19 response and vaccination roll-out plan in Kidapawan City.

Last October 28, the team also extended aid to 11 disaster victims in Kidapawan City, Makilala and M’lang. All activities were conducted in batches and strict adherence with the health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (OSBG)