PASAY CITY -- On Saturday, November 27, the Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go distributed assistance to thousands of disadvantaged residents in Sara and Carles, Iloilo as part of the senator’s commitment to help in the recovery of communities adversely affected by the pandemic.

Ensuring the safety of everyone present at the relief operations for 2,000 beneficiaries at the municipal gymnasiums of Sara and Carles, Go’s team strictly enforced the health protocols against COVID-19 and grouped the residents into smaller batches as they handed out snacks and masks.

Go also sent new pairs of shoes and bicycles to select recipients for a more hassle-free commute and gave others computer tablets for their children’s studies.

Meanwhile, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development granted the residents financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

The Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted on-site assessments for potential beneficiaries of their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

The senator extended additional support to beneficiaries with medical concerns as he encouraged them to seek medical assistance at any of the four Malasakit Centers in the province.

Initiated by Go, the Malasakit Centers program aims to provide convenient access to medical assistance programs by DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The centers are located at Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara, and Western Visayas Medical Center and West Visayas State University Medical Center in Iloilo City.

Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reminded the residents to continue adhering to preventive health measures especially against the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. So far, the Philippines has not reported any case of the new Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa on November 24 and has since spread globally.

“Mga kababayan ko, napapansin ho natin sa nakaraang linggo, bumababa po ang kaso. Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin maging kumpiyansa tayo. Ingat pa rin tayo. Habang nandidiyan po si COVID delikado pa po ang panahon. Nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng krisis dulot ng COVID-19,” he added.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also supported numerous projects in the province for its economic development such as the improvement of roads in Badiangan, Banate, Dumangas, Jaro, Lemery, Miagao, and Sara; construction of a health station in Barangay Bucari in Leon; acquisition of trucks for Barotac Viejo and Zarraga; construction of the legislative building with complete facilities in the municipal hall of San Dionisio; and the acquisition of ambulance units in Leon and Oton.

In the end, the senator expressed his appreciation towards the local officials for their massive contribution and untiring service to their respective communities amid the national health crisis.

“Maraming salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo sa panahon ngayon. Tulungan po natin ang ating mga kababayang mahihirap po – ‘yung mga walang matakbuhan, ‘yung mga helpless at mga hopeless po nating kababayan. Iyon po ang unahin nating tulungan, ‘yung mga kababayan nating mahihirap. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” Go stressed. (OSBG)