PASAY CITY -- In line with his commitment to helping communities respond to the pandemic, an outreach team of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go visited Silago and Tomas Oppus in Southern Leyte to provide aid to their struggling residents.

“May pag-asa pa tayo. Huwag kayong mag-alala dahil unti-unti tayong babalik sa normal natin na pamumuhay. Gagawin po namin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya upang tulungan kayo,” Go reassured in a video message.

His team carried out distribution activities at the Barangay Tubod auditorium in Silago and Tomas Oppus municipal gym on Thursday, November 11. They handed out meals, vitamins and masks to a total of 2,000 residents in batches, in compliance with the health and safety protocols.

Selected residents received new shoes while others received bicycles so they can commute in areas with limited transportation. Meanwhile, some received computer tablets to enhance their children's learning experience under the blended learning approach.

Moreover, personnel from various national agencies also attended the distribution as part of a whole-of-government effort to mitigate the wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development separately distributed financial assistance for the residents’ immediate needs. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, conducted assessments for their existing programs for displaced workers.

“Grabe ang hirap ng buhay dahil sa pandemya kaya nagbukas kami ng kapatid ko ng tindahan para may panggastos kami sa pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan namin. Maraming salamat, Senator Bong Go at Presidente Duterte, para sa tulong ninyo. Malaki ang maitutulong nito lalo na sa aking anak at pamilya,” said Elma Obra, 42, a massage therapist.

The senator, who heads the Senate Committee on Health, continued his message urging the residents to adhere to the government-issued protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their communities.

He offered to assist those with medical concerns and advised them to avail of medical assistance from the government through the Malasakit Center at the Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital in Maasin City.

In 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The law aims to make medical assistance programs of the government more accessible by putting the concerned agencies — the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office - under on roof.

“Para mabayaran ang balanse niyo, may Malasakit Center na sa inyong ospital. Nasa loob na ng isang kwarto ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno para iisang araw na lang ang proseso. Hindi na mauubos ang panahon niyo kakapila sa iba’t ibang opisina,” explained Go.

“Kung hindi naman kayo kaya gamutin sa ospital niyo dito, kung mayroon kayong komplikasyon, sakit sa puso o kung ano pa man, sabihan niyo lang si Mayor. Kami na ang makikipag-coordinate at magpapagamot sa inyo hanggang makalabas kayo,” he further reassured.

Ending his message, the lawmaker thanked Governor Damian Mercado, Vice Governor Christopherson Yap, Silago Mayor Pacita Almine and Vice Mayor Lemuel Honor, and Tomas Oppus Mayor Jessica Escaño and Vice Mayor Rey Tambis for leading their constituents through this crisis.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported many initiatives to accelerate infrastructure development and create new economic opportunities in Southern Leyte. They include the improvement of the rural health unit and renovation and expansion of the municipal public market in Silago, and the concreting of the road in Brgy. Biasong and construction of a multi-purpose building in Tomas Oppus.

Go also pushed for other infrastructure enhancements, such as the improvement of existing roads in Hinundayan, Liloan, Limasawa, Libagon, Malitbog, Pintuyan, Saint Bernard, San Francisco and Sogod; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Libagon, Limasawa, Macrohon, Malitbog and Padre Burgos; and installation of streetlights in Bontoc and San Ricardo.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the senator continues to reach out to Filipinos in crisis situations. His office provided assistance to 2,000 residents in Macrohon and Padre Burgos the previous day, November 10. (OSBG)