PASAY CITY -- In his video message during the distribution activities in Tarangnan and Pagsanghan, Samar on Tuesday, November 16, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go stated that the health and well-being of Filipinos remain his top priority.
In this regard, he encouraged residents to visit the Malasakit Center at the Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City should they need assistance with their medical bills.
Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019, the Malasakit Centers Act was principally authored and sponsored by Go. The law mandates all Department of Health-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital to establish their own Malasakit Centers to ensure that poor and indigent patients can conveniently access medical programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
“Nasa loob ng ospital ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong sa inyo para maging ‘zero balance’ ang inyong billing. Tuluy-tuloy na itong programa dahil para sa amin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, hindi dapat pinahihirapan ang mga pasyente. Dapat tulungan natin sila para hindi na sila pumipila sa iba’t ibang ahensya para makahingi ng tulong sa gobyerno,” explained Go.
As he continues to bring much needed support to struggling sectors and communities to help the country slowly recover from the challenges caused by the pandemic, Go had his team distribute assistance to a total of 2,000 residents at Tarangnan Municipal Gymnasium and Pagsanghan Municipal Auditorium.
The outreach team ensured a safe and well-organized distribution and grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches and enforced necessary health protocols while they handed out snacks, masks and vitamins.
In addition, Go’s staff gave new pairs of shoes, bicycles, and computer tablets to select residents. Meanwhile, the DSWD provided financial assistance to the residents.
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, gave livelihood and scholarship opportunities to qualified individuals.
Continuing his message, Go appealed to those in priority groups to take advantage of the vaccination program and emphasized that vaccines are the country’s key to normalcy. He reassured the public that more doses are being acquired by the government to ensure that more Filipinos are protected against the virus.
“Pakiusap po namin ni Pangulong Duterte sa inyo, lalung-lalo na po ‘pag pasok na kayo sa priority list, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Ito po ang ating proteksyon,” expressed Go.
“Kung mahal niyo po ang inyong mga anak, mahal niyo po ang inyong mga pamilya, pakiusap lang po sa inyo, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna, huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna,” he added.
