No. of :

No. of Shares:

Currently viewed by: Marcus Rosit

Sen. Go urges gov’t to provide incentives to the poorest of the poor to get vaccinated as his team aids indigents in Iloilo City

PASAY CITY -- Following the relief operations for the underprivileged residents in the towns of Carles and Sara on November 27, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go sent his team for another distribution activity in Iloilo City on Thursday, December 2, for the indigents who bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a video message, Go urged the public to continue cooperating with the government as it works to balance public safety and economic survival amid the health crisis.

“Sa ating mga kapatid, 'wag kayong mag-alala dahil hinding-hindi kayo pababayaan ng ating gobyerno. Magtutulungan tayo upang maibangon muli ang kabuhayan ng bawat Pilipino,” reassured Go.

“Patuloy lang tayong sumunod sa mga otoridad at magmalasakit sa ating kapwa. Ang importante ay tuluyan nang matigil ang pagkalat ng sakit na ito para matutukan natin ang pagsugpo sa hirap at gutom at muling pagpapalago ng ating mga kabuhayan,” he added.

Go’s team served meals to a total of 300 residents in batches at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand. They also provided select recipients new shoes or bicycles for traveling and computer tablets to help their children in their blended learning experience.

Meanwhile, as part of the government’s concerted efforts to support vulnerable communities amid the pandemic, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial assistance. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments for their respective support programs.

To ensure that the medical needs of the residents are met, Go, who heads the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered additional assistance. He advised them to seek aid at the Malasakit Centers at the Western Visayas Medical Center and West Visayas State University Medical Center in Iloilo City.

Malasakit Centers are also available at the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara and Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo.

"Batas ito na isinulong ko noong 2019. Nasa loob na ng ospital ang mga ahensya na tutulong sa inyo hanggang maging zero balance ang inyong billing para wala na kayong babayaran sa inyong pagpapa-ospital. Walang pinipili 'yan, walang pulitika diyan," explained Go.

The Malasakit Center was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019”, which Go principally authored and sponsored. It aims to reduce a hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various patient services and expenses.

The lawmaker then lauded the city for its high vaccine uptake but reminded the residents to keep following the mandated health and safety protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19.

He reiterated his call for the government to approve his proposal of providing fully vaccinated members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) cash incentives to improve the vaccine coverage among the lowest income groups.

“Muli po akong nananawagan sa gobyerno na pag-aralan ang posibilidad na bigyan ng dagdag ayuda bilang insentibo ang mga fully vaccinated na miyembro ng 4Ps. Hindi pwedeng may maiwan sa ating muling pagbangon, lalo na ‘yung pinakamahihirap at pinakanangangailangan,” explained Go.

“Hindi katanggap tanggap na 16 percent lang ang bakunado sa mga 4Ps. Bagama’t hindi natin sila mapilit, ‘wag tayong tumigil sa pag-enganyo sa kanila. Sa dagdag ayuda bilang insentibo, matulungan natin sila sa kabuhayan at makapagligtas pa tayo ng buhay,” he added.

In the end, Go thanked District Representative Mayor Julienne Baronda, Mayor Jerry Treñas, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and the members of the city council for their continued hard work and dedication amid the pandemic.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported several infrastructure projects such as the construction of the local road in Barangay San Isidro and multipurpose buildings in Barangays Lanit and Loboc. He also helped fund the construction of the multipurpose building in the Iloilo City Public Market and the completion of various barangay health stations throughout the city.

Other major initiatives in the province include the concreting or construction of roads in Badiangan, Banate, Carles, Dumangas, Lemery, Miag-ao and Sara; construction of multipurpose buildings in Barotac Viejo and Sara; completion of the barangay health stations in Leon; construction of a flood control system in Balasan; construction of a seawall in Banate; construction of the legislative building complete with facilities in San Dionisio; and improvement of the public parks in Dueñas.

The relief operation was conducted in strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)

About the Author

Kate Shiene Austria

Information Officer III

Information Officer III under the Creative and Production Services Division of the Philippine Information Agency. 

Feedback / Comment

Get in touch