PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged the public to stay vigilant and supportive of the government’s pandemic response efforts even as the country sees a decline in its active COVID-19 cases.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go stressed the need to strictly observe the government’s health guidelines to further reduce the number of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths.

In a video message during the relief operations in Bacnotan and San Fernando City, La Union on Wednesday, December 1, Go called for continued bayanihan efforts to keep their respective communities safe. He assured that the national government is doing its part to balance public safety and economic survival for the best interest of the Filipinos.

“Lagi natin 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," said 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,” he reminded.

The senator’s staff distributed meals and masks to a total of 1,839 recipients composed of typhoon victims, farmers and hog raisers at Bacnotan National High School and Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-Mid La Union Campus in San Fernando City.

In addition, the team gave food packs to the typhoon victims in Bacnotan and provided select recipients new pairs of shoes, bicycles and computer tablets.

As part of the government’s holistic intervention measures for communities in crisis, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Agriculture also gave financial assistance to the typhoon victims and farmers, respectively.

Go offered additional medical assistance to those with health concerns in line with his commitment to provide Filipinos with convenient access to quality healthcare services. He advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City.

First launched in Cebu in 2018, the Malasakit Center was successfully institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act, which Go principally authored and sponsored. It aims to improve the delivery of medical assistance to particularly poor and indigent patients by bringing together the relevant government agencies under one roof, including the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Ngayon po, pakiusap lang ho namin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte magpabakuna na po kayo, mas protektado po kayo. Nasa datos po 'pag bakunado kayo, mas maiiwasan ang pagkagrabe o pagkamatay po dulot ng COVID-19. Magtulungan lang po tayo, magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” Go appealed.

Ending his remarks, Go commended the local government officials for extending support to their respective constituents and urged them to continue serving their communities and helping them fully recover from the pandemic and other crisis situations.

Meanwhile, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go supported several projects in the province to boost its economic growth and improve public service delivery.

Among these are the construction and improvement of roads in Aringay, Bagulin, Burgos, Naguilan, Rosario and San Gabriel; construction of multipurpose centers in Caba and San Fernando City; construction of slope protection in Bacnotan; acquisition of multipurpose vehicles and rehabilitation of a multipurpose building in Balaoan; and the acquisition of an ambulance and a multipurpose vehicle in Bangar.

Go’s team conducted similar distribution activities for other typhoon victims in Balaoan and Santol on November 29. (OSBG)