PASAY CITY -- More struggling communities continue to benefit from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s relief efforts as his team distributed assistance in the cities of Angeles and San Fernando, Pampanga on Tuesday, November 30, to a total of 3,300 beneficiaries including solo parents, vendors and indigents.

In a video message, Go reminded the beneficiaries to make health their top priority especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go emphasized the need for convenient access to medical assistance programs for the particularly poor and indigent patients.

Thus, he advised the residents to visit any of the two Malasakit Centers in Pampanga if they need help to settle their hospital bills. The centers are located at Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City and Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando City. Since the establishment of the first Malasakit Center in 2018, the Malasakit Centers program has assisted over three million Filipinos with 149 centers operational nationwide.

“Zero balance po ang target ng Malasakit Center. Para po sa mga poor and indigent patients ang Malasakit Center, para po ‘yan sa Pilipino. Lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center, handang tumulong po ‘yan sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino,” said Go.

“Kung mayro’n ho kayong mga pasyente sa (Philippine) Heart Center, sa NKTI, sa Maynila, magsabi lang po kayo. Nandirito lang po kami ni Pangulong Duterte na handang tumulong po sa inyo,” he added.

Conducted at Angeles City Sports Center and Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office in San Fernando City, the distributions were compliant with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. Go’s team grouped the beneficiaries into small batches before they handed out meals and masks.

Go also gave away computer tablets to select recipients and provided new pairs of shoes and bicycles to others.

Personnel from DSWD, on the other hand, extended separate financial assistance to help the residents sustain their daily needs.

“Kay Senator Bong Go, maraming salamat po sa mga kanyang mga layunin na pang mahirap, lalo na po ang Malasakit Center dahil isa po ako sa mga natulungan ng Malasakit Center. Sana po ay marami pa po kayong matulungan na mga tao,” Cherry Esguerra, 50, shared in an interview.

“Ako po ay bakunado na kaya sana po lahat ng taga-Angeles ay magpabakuna na po tayong lahat para proteksyon natin sa COVID-19 at para tumigil na rin ito sa pagkalat pa,” Esguerra encouraged.

Go then urged everyone to continue supporting the government's initiatives to overcome the pandemic. He reminded those eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible to further protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19.

He also reiterated his appeal for the national government to provide cash incentives for the fully vaccinated members of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to increase vaccine confidence among the poorest of the poor.

“Kailangan po ang tulong, kailangan po ang kooperasyon, kailangan po ang disiplina ng bawat isa. Huwag maging kumpiyansa. Pakiusap po namin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, kahit bakunado na po kayo huwag pa ring maging kumpiyansa dahil hindi natin masabi, ‘yung hindi pa bakunado ay maaaring mahawa,” Go expressed.

Finally, Go thanked the local government officials of Angeles City and San Fernando City for their untiring public service during these challenging times.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also supported various infrastructure projects in the province to boost its economy.

Among these are the acquisition of medical equipment for several hospitals in Arayat, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Porac, San Fernado City and San Luis; construction of multipurpose covered areas in Arayat, Lubao, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol and Sta. Ana; and road improvements in Arayat, Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, Mexico, Minalin, San Luis and Sta. Ana. (OSBG)