PASAY CITY -- As the government continues to intensify its efforts in ending the national health crisis, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go had his team conduct another series of relief efforts for his fellow Davaoeños in Barangays Biao Joaquin, Lacson, Talomo River, Dominga, Calinan Poblacion, Wangan and Riverside in Davao City on November 12 and 13.

“Alam ko pong mahirap ang panahon ngayon, nasa krisis po tayo dulot ng COVID-19 pandemic. Magtulungan lang po tayo at magtiwala tayo sa ating gobyerno na walang ibang hangarin kundi proteksyunan ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” greeted Go in a video message.

The senator, as Chair of Senate Committee on Health, urged those who are eligible to get inoculated immediately to protect themselves from the virus and help the nation achieve population protection leading to herd immunity.

“Mga kababayan ko, ang bakuna po ang pag-asa natin dito. Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna. Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” said Go.

“Ang ating target ngayon ay makamtan natin ang population protection at herd immunity po. Sana po bago mag-Pasko para naman po sumaya ang ating Pasko. Sa mga nasa priority list na po, magpabakuna na po kayo. At sa mga nabakunahan na po ng two doses, mga kababayan ko, huwag ho kayong maging kumpiyansa,” he added.

Go’s team held the distribution at the towns' respective gymnasiums where the 2,964 beneficiaries received snacks and masks. The team also grouped the residents into smaller batches, making sure that necessary health protocols were observed.

The senator gave selected residents bicycles and new computer tablets to help children engage better in blended learning activities.

Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided the residents financial assistance. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, evaluated potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.

Go then assured the beneficiaries with health concerns that the government is ready to assist them with their medical expenses. He advised them to visit the Southern Philippines Medical Center in the city and avail of medical assistance from concerned agencies such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office through the Malasakit Center located at such hospital.

To date, there are 149 Malasakit Centers in the country since the program was initiated by Go in 2018. It is now institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go authored and sponsored in the Senate and eventually signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2019.

Go, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also aims to improve public service delivery for his fellow Davaoeños. In this regard, Go supported the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Brgys. Ilang, Mintal, Panacan, San Antonio, Tigatto, Waan, Pampanga and Gov. Vicente Duterte; and the construction of drainage systems in Brgys. Mintal, Mudiang, Wilfredo Aquino, Ubalde, Buhangin Proper, Centro, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper and Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr.

Go also supported the construction multi-purpose buildings in the compound of SPMC Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and in the City Library Complex; acquisition of ambulance units and construction of a 300-bed capacity infectious disease building in SPMC; acquisition of a multi-purpose vehicle and a mini dump truck in Brgys. Callawa, Panacan, Lapu-Lapu and Cabantian; and construction of drainage systems in Brgys. Centro, Agdao, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper, Tomas Monteverde Sr. Agdao and Mintal.

Concluding his message, Go thanked the local officials of the city for spearheading the recovery efforts in their communities. He then asked everyone to remain focused on serving the Filipinos first before talking about the upcoming elections.

“Mga kababayan ko, focus muna tayo ngayon dito sa pagbabakuna. Mamaya na po ‘yung pulitika dahil baka wala na po tayong pulitikang pag-uusapan ‘pag hindi po natin nalampasan itong krisis na ating kinakaharap. Importante muna focus tayo sa ating pagbabakuna. Focus tayo na malampasan itong krisis na ito,” urged Go.

“Iyon po ang dapat nating isipin parati dahil kapakanan po ng bawat Pilipino ang nakataya dito. Kaya kailangan nating magtulungan, mga kababayan ko,” he ended. (OSBG)