PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s office participated in a relief operation conducted in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, November 24, as part of a collaborative effort with key government partners to help the poor and vulnerable.

In a video message at the activities, the senator appealed to residents who have yet to get vaccinated to get their shots as soon as possible. He once again called on the government to grant financial incentives to fully-vaccinated members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to improve the vaccine coverage among the poorest of the poor.

"Sa ating hangaring malampasan ang pandemya, sinisiguro ng gobyernong may tunay na malasakit na walang Pilipinong maiiwan sa ating muling pagbangon. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit napaka-importante na magpabakuna upang maproteksyunan ang buong populasyon," explained Go.

“Hindi katanggap tanggap na 16 percent lang ang bakunado sa mga miyembro ng 4Ps. Sa pamamagitan ng insentibo na ito, hindi lang natin maliligtas ang kanilang buhay, matutulungan pa natin sila sa kanilang kabuhayan,” he continued.

Go’s team provided a total of 9,000 residents with meals and masks at the Cadiz City Arena, Escalante City Coliseum and Balay Kauswagan in Sagay City. They gave selected residents new pairs of shoes and bicycles for commuting, as well as computer tablets for children’s use in their studies under the blended learning approach.

To help mitigate the financial impacts of the pandemic, teams from various government agencies were likewise present during the activities.

The DSWD provided financial assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also evaluated prospective beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.

“Ay ang hirap nung nagkapandemya, kanya-kanya kaming strategy para makakain ang mga pamilya namin. Nagtanim at nagbenta ako ng mga bulak para kahit sa bahay lang ako ay may income kami at makatulong din ako sa mga ka parehas kong may disability. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte at Senator Bong Go para sa mga tulong nila sa mga mahihirap,” said Narcissa Dinson, 53.

To help them maintain good health, the senator offered further assistance to the sick and elderly and advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent patients may easily apply for the government’s medical assistance programs. Its partner agencies include the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The primary aim of the center is to reduce as much as possible a patient’s hospital bill by covering various patient services and out-of-pocket expenditures, such as medicines and surgeries.

“Siguraduhin po natin na patuloy ang pagbubukas ng Malasakit Centers sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa upang mas mailapit sa tao ang ginhawa ng serbisyong dapat nilang makuha,” said Go.

“Rest assured na kami ni Pangulong Duterte ay handang sumuporta sa inyo. At ako, bilang inyong senador — kung ano ang mga hinaing ninyo o gusto ninyong iparating, patuloy akong tutulong sa abot ng aking makakaya. At patuloy n’yo rin akong magiging tulay sa ating Pangulo,” he reassured.

To end his message, the lawmaker recognized various officials for looking after the welfare of their constituents. Among these were 1st District Representative Gerardo Valmayor Jr.; 2nd District Rep. Leo Cueva; Governor Eugenio Lacson; Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer; Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. and Vice Mayor Lilia Decolongon; Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. and Vice Mayor Johnny Gabriel; and Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III and Vice Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported numerous initiatives to help create new economic opportunities and improve the delivery of key public services in Negros Occidental.

They include the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto and Himamaylan City; construction of an auditorium in Bacolod City; construction of a new infectious diseases wing at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City; construction of a revetment with a floodwall along the Sum-Ag River in Bacolod City; and maintenance of roads in Salvador Benedicto and the cities of Bacolod and Bago.

To ensure the province can withstand the ongoing pandemic and build its resilience against future health crises, he also successfully pushed for the passage of a bill in the Senate which sought to establish the Bacolod City General Hospital. The measure was signed into law by President Duterte last June.

On Monday, November 22, his team provided similar aid to 4,000 residents in Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto. Each distribution was conducted in small batches to ensure strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)