Senator Christopher “Bong” Go sent his team to extend assistance to more struggling residents in Malita, Davao Occidental on Friday, December 3, as part of his commitment to help Filipinos nationwide overcome the pandemic.
In his video message, Go, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, urged eligible residents to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to boost their body’s defenses and eventually help the country attain population protection leading to herd immunity.
The senator reminded the public not to be complacent and to continue adhering to necessary health protocols even after being inoculated.
“Inuuna po namin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ang kalusugan at buhay po ng bawat Pilipino. Kailangan po namin ang disiplina at kooperasyon ng bawat isa,” said Go.
“Mga kababayan ko, ang target po natin ngayong taon ay population protection at sa susunod naman po ang herd immunity, ‘yung hindi na po kakalat ang sakit,” he added.
Go’s team organized the relief operation for 1,000 beneficiaries from various sectoral groups at Malita Public Market. They provided grocery packs, vitamins, snacks and masks, as well as new shoes, bicycles and computer tablets for select recipients. However, due to the heavy rainfall, the barangay officials received the assistance for distribution to their respective constituents.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. The Department of Agriculture, in turn, provided packs of vegetable seeds.
Lastly, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted assessments for potential beneficiaries of their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.
Meanwhile, Go offered additional medical assistance to the residents and encouraged those with health concerns to seek aid at the Malasakit Center at Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Digos City, as there is no Malasakit Center yet in Davao Occidental. Nevertheless, there are 148 other Malasakit Centers open nationwide to help Filipinos with their medical expenses.
The senator principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019”, to efficiently provide Filipinos, particularly poor and indigent patients, convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
To boost economic opportunities and improve public service delivery in the province, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also extended his support to the construction of roads and an indoor sports building in Malita.
