PASAY CITY -- On Thursday, November 25, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s team conducted two separate relief activities for struggling sectors in Barotac Nuevo and Dingle in Iloilo province. The Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided beneficiaries with assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go urged the residents to get inoculated immediately in accordance with vaccination guidelines as doing so would greatly contribute to the nation’s goal of achieving population protection and herd immunity soon.

“Magpabakuna na ho kayo, mga kababayan ko, ‘pag nasa priority list na po kayo, libre naman po ito. Kung mahal niyo po ang inyong mga anak, ang inyong mga pamilya, magpabakuna na ho kayo,” Go appealed.

“Napatunayan naman po, ‘pag bakunado kayo, mas protektado po kayo at mas maiiwasan po ‘yung pagkagrabe ng sakit na COVID-19 ‘pag bakunado po kayo,” he added.

Go then reiterated his call for the national government to look into granting cash incentives for fully vaccinated members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

In line with his commitment to providing Filipinos access to quality health care, Go also encouraged the beneficiaries to visit any of the four Malasakit Centers in the province should they need assistance with their medical expenses. These Malasakit Centers are located at the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara, Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, and West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Medical Center, both in Iloilo City.

“Ang Malasakit Center po ay batas na, isinulong ko po noon, pinirmahan ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno at tutulungan po kayo, ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, at DSWD. Zero balance po ang target ng Malasakit Center,” said Go.

Go’s team organized the relief efforts for a total of 2,000 residents at the Pandan covered court in Dingle and the municipal hall in Barotac Nuevo. All distributions were carried out in batches and in strict compliance with health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The beneficiaries received meals and masks. Some also received bicycles and new pairs of shoes while others brought home computer tablets which children may use to easily access educational materials.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, meanwhile, assessed potential beneficiaries who can benefit from their respective programs.

Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also extended his support for various projects in the province, such as acquisition of trucks for Barotac Viejo and Zarraga; improvement of public parks in Dueñas; completion of health stations in various barangays in Iloilo City and Leon; and acquisition of ambulance units in Leon and Oton. This is part of his commitment to help the development and growth of Iloilo.

The senator thanked various public officials for their service to their communities during these unprecedented times, saying, “Salamat po sa lahat po ng national government agencies at local officials na tumulong po diyan. Huwag niyo pong pabayaan ang ating mga kababayang mahihirap po.”

“Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte, ginagawa po namin ang lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya upang malampasan po natin itong krisis na ating kinakaharap sa ngayon,” he ended. (OSBG)