PASAY CITY -- The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go dispatched an outreach team to Pulupandan and Valladolid, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, December 7, to support thousands of residents who belong to disadvantaged communities and bear the brunt of the ongoing health crisis.
The team distributed snacks and masks to a total of 2,000 residents grouped into batches at the Haven of Grace covered court in Pulupandan and Valladolid Public Plaza. They also provided select recipients new pairs of shoes and computer tablets to help their children in their blended learning activities.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance as part of the government efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable communities.
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, on the other hand, conducted assessments for residents who seek livelihood opportunities under their respective programs.
“Sa aking mga kababayan, huwag po tayong mag-alala. Darating din ang araw na malalampasan natin ang pandemyang ito basta’t nagtutulungan at nagmamalasakit tayo,” Go reassured in a video message.
“Huwag kayong mahiyang manghingi ng tulong sa amin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte dahil trabaho namin ang magsilbi sa inyo. Gagawin namin ang lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya upang magbigay ng tulong sa mga nangangailangan at mag-iwan ng ngiti sa oras ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” he continued.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the senator encouraged hesitant residents to get inoculated against COVID-19 once qualified and as soon as they are scheduled to do so. He emphasized the importance of heightened participation in the national vaccination program to help the country return to normalcy and open up more economic opportunities for all Filipinos.
“Pakiusap namin ni Pangulong Duterte, kung mahal ninyo ang inyong mga anak, inyong pamilya, magpabakuna na kayo. Tulungan niyo po ang gobyerno na makamtan ang herd immunity para naman sumaya ang ating Pasko ngayong taon at makabalik na tayo unti-unti sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” appealed Go.
The lawmaker also offered additional medical assistance to the sick and elderly. He further advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City as it was established to help poor and indigent patients conveniently avail of medical aid from the government.
The Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop that brings together under one roof the offices of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. It seeks to reduce a hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various patient services and expenses.
The program was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act, which Go principally authored and sponsored and President Duterte signed into law in December 2019.
“Naglilinis po ako ng isda at ang asawa ko naman ay may diabetes. Sobrang bigat ng epekto ng pandemya sa amin na mga mahihirap. ‘Yung nakukuha ko sa isang araw, tama lang para makabili ng ilang kilo ng bigas. Hindi man namin maayos ang bahay, ang importante may makain kami kahit papaano,” said Merlinda Prias, 62.
”Nagpapasalamat ako ng malaki kay Senator Bong Go dahil may pandagdag na ako sa capital. Kahit hindi namin siya nakita at least may dumating na tulong galing sa kanya,” she added.
To end, Go expressed his gratitude to Governor Eugenio Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña and Vice Mayor Anthony Suatengco, Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles and Vice Mayor Roel Yogore, and other local officials for their continued service and dedication throughout the pandemic.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported numerous initiatives to help create new economic opportunities and improve the delivery of public services in Negros Occidental.
These include road development projects and the upgrading of the municipal slaughterhouse in Pulupandan and the construction of a Research, Extension and Community Service Center and a multipurpose building in Valladolid.
Other major initiatives are the construction of multipurpose buildings in Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto and cities of Himamaylan and Victorias; construction of an auditorium in Bacolod City; construction of a new infectious diseases wing at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City; construction of a revetment with a floodwall along the Sum-Ag River in Bacolod City; and road maintenance in Salvador Benedicto and the cities of Bacolod and Bago.
To ensure that the province can withstand the ongoing pandemic and build its resilience against future health crises, Go also successfully pushed for the passage of a bill that would establish the Bacolod City General Hospital. The measure was signed into law by President Duterte last June.
Similar distribution activities were conducted by Go’s team in the cities of Talisay and Victorias just a day before. All relief efforts were carried out in strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)
