PASAY CITY -- On Tuesday, December 7, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go sent his team to mount a relief operation for the displaced workers in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato as he continues to provide assistance to vulnerable sectors across the country.

“Huwag kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Kami ang nagpapasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon para makapagserbisyo. Hindi namin sasayangin ang pagkakataon na ito at 24/7 kaming magtatrabaho para sa aming mga kababayang Pilipino," said Go in his video message.

“Kaya kung may maitutulong kami, ‘wag kayong mahiyang lumapit sa amin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Kahit saan kami mapadpad, 'wag kayong mag-alala dahil patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat,” he reassured.

The senator’s staff distributed masks and snacks to a total of 1,245 beneficiaries. They also gave select recipients new shoes or bicycles for commuting, as well as computer tablets for their children’s blended learning activities. The relief operation was held at Kidapawan City Hall in compliance with the mandated health protocols against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, a team from the Department of Labor and Employment provided support through its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, assessed potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.

Go, who heads the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, then urged those eligible to get inoculated against COVID-19 to do so as soon as they are scheduled. He further reminded them to stay vigilant even after they have completed their doses to help curb the spread of the pandemic.

“Pakiusap, magtiwala kayo kay Pangulong Duterte at sa gobyerno. Nasa datos naman na kung bakunado kayo, mas maiiwasan niyo ang severe na sintomas o pagkamatay ng dahil sa COVID-19. Tingnan niyo sa Maynila, bumababa ang bilang ng kaso nila dahil marami na ang bakunado,” said Go.

The senator likewise encouraged the displaced workers who need medical attention to reach out to his office and to visit Cotabato Provincial Hospital in the city where there is a Malasakit Center available to assist them.

The Malasakit Centers program aims to make all government medical assistance programs more accessible to poor and indigent patients by bringing together the relevant agencies, namely the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Kung mayroon kayong pasyente, hanapin niyo lang ang Malasakit Center. Nandyan na sa loob ang mga ahensya na tutulong para maging ‘zero balance’ o wala na kayong babayaran sa inyong pagpapaospital. Ano ba ang qualification ng Malasakit Center? Basta Pilipino ka, poor at indigent patient ka, qualified ka,” Go said.

“Ngayon, kung kinakailangan niyong operahan o transplant, lapitan niyo lang ang aming opisina. Huwag na kayong mag-alala sa inyong bayarin sa ospital dahil kami na ang sasagot. Alam namin na kaya minsan takot ang mga tao na magpaospital dahil mahal babayaran,” he added.

Finally, Go commended the local government officials for working together to keep their constituents safe. He then appealed for them to continue helping their community recover from the pandemic.

To accelerate the development of the province, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, also supported the concreting of the farm-to-market and other local roads in Alamada, Banisilan, Libungan, Midsayap, President Roxas and Kidapawan City; construction of bridges in Arakan, Kabacan, Makilala and Kidapawan City; and construction or rehabilitation of drainage canals in Kabacan and Pikit.

Other major initiatives include the construction of multipurpose buildings in Arakan, Makilala and Kidapawan City; barangay halls in Matalam and Midsayap; a slaughterhouse and public market in Arakan; and improvement of a public market building in Pigcawayan.

Just the day before, Senator Go’s outreach team provided similar assistance to thousands of struggling residents from the towns of Magpet, Makilala, Arakan, Antipas, M’lang, Pigcawayan, Midsayap, Libungan, Tulunan, Matalam, Kabacan, Alamada, Banisilan, Pikit, Alamada and President Roxas. (OSBG)