PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continued to provide support to various sectoral groups throughout the country as he sent his team to Carcar City, Cebu on Monday, November 29, to deliver immediate assistance to residents there.

Go’s team conducted the relief operations at the Perrelos and Ocana covered courts in Carcar City and provided meals and masks to a total of 1,658 persons with disabilities, farmers, fisherfolk, habal-habal drivers, candle vendors, and barangay officials.

In a video message, Go underscored the importance of cooperation in restoring normalcy and resuscitating the economy.

“Lagi nating alalahanin na hindi kaya ng gobyernong mag-isa ang laban kontra pandemya. Hindi rin kakayanin ng mga frontliners kung patuloy na dadami ang kailangang dalhin sa mga ospital. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 starts with us by being responsible citizens and following health and safety protocols," opened Go.

“Let us remain vigilant at sumunod sa mga patakaran. Ugaliing magsuot ng mask, mag-social distancing, maghugas ng kamay at kung hindi kailangang lumabas ay manatili na lang sa bahay upang maiwasan ang hawaan ng sakit na ito. Ituloy natin ang pakikipag-bayanihan sa kapwa,” he continued.

In a separate distribution, the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided the residents with additional financial assistance.

Moreover, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority extended livelihood support and scholarship grants, respectively, to qualified beneficiaries. The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas also distributed meals.

Go then reminded the families to continue adhering to health protocols recommended by the government and urged them to get inoculated once eligible to increase their bodies’ defenses against COVID-19.

Go also offered assistance to those with health concerns to visit any of the 149 Malasakit Centers in the country should they need assistance with paying for their hospital bills.

First established in Cebu in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where Filipinos, particularly poor and indigent patients, can conveniently access medical programs offered by DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

"Walay gi pili ang Malasakit Center. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka sa Malasakit Center. Para ni sa tanang pobre ug kabus nga pasyente. Para sa inyo na." Go said.

"Kung nag kinahanglan mog tabang sa Heart Center sa Maynila, pagsulti lang mo kay tabangan mo namo. Kami na ang motubag sa inyong pagpaospital kung kinahanglan gyud dad-on sa Maynila," he added.

(“Wala pong pinipili ang Malasakit Center. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Para po 'yan sa poor and indigent patients. Inyo po 'yan,”

“Kung kailangan n’yo po ng tulong sa Heart Center sa Maynila, magsabi lang ho kayo. Tutulungan ho namin kayo. Kami na ho ang sasagot sa inyong pagpapaospital kung kakailanganin pong dalhin sa Maynila.”)

Go then lauded Carcar City's local officials for their efforts to help their respective communities recover from calamities even at the height of a national health crisis.

“Mga kababayan ko, kami po ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ay handang magserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya. At uunahin namin ang interes ng bawat Pilipino dahil mahal po namin ang aming kapwa Pilipino. Maraming salamat po,” he ended.

As the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go supported several projects in the province that aim to help its economic recovery. In Carcar City, he supported the concreting of local roads and construction of a drainage canal.

He also supported various projects throughout the province, such as the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Barili, Cordova, Ginatilan, Pilar, Tabogon and Talisay City; improvement of existing roads in Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Asturias, Balamban, Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Madridejos, Malabuyoc, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Pinamungajan, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, and Naga City; improvement of flood mitigation structures in Catmon and Tuburan; installation of street lights in Asturias, Compostela and Daanbantayan; and acquisition of ambulance units for Madridejos and Naga City. (OSBG)