PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged the public anew to work together with the government in its relentless efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and return to normalcy.

In a video message during the relief operations mounted by his team for vulnerable residents in MacArthur and Javier, Leyte on Wednesday, December 8, the senator asked the residents to remain supportive of the government’s vaccination efforts for the country to finally attain population protection leading to herd immunity.

“Mga kababayan ko, kaunting tiis lang po, alam ko nahihirapan na kayo. Kami rin po ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, hirap na hirap na rin po kami kaya lang po kayo ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin para malampasan natin ito bilang nagkakaisang mamamayang Pilipino, kailangan lang natin magmalasakit at magbayanihan po,” Go said.

“Nakikiusap po kami sa inyo magpabakuna na ho kayo. Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna. Kung mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga anak at inyong mga pamilya magpabakuna na po kayo. Libre po itong bakuna,” he appealed.

Go’s staff strictly implemented safety and health protocols as they distributed snacks and masks to 1,000 residents at MacArthur Municipal Auditorium and Northeastern Leyte Agri-Pinoy Trading Center in Javier. They also gave select residents bicycles, new pairs of shoes and computer tablets.

“Patuloy tayong magbayanihan upang walang maiwan sa muling pag-ahon mula sa krisis na ito,” he stressed.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, extended necessary support to the residents through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also determined qualified recipients of its scholarship grants while the Department of Trade and Industry evaluated potential beneficiaries of its livelihood assistance.

As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go offered additional medical aid to the residents and encouraged them to avail of medical assistance from any of the four Malasakit Centers in the province located at New Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City, Ormoc District Hospital, and Leyte Provincial Hospital and Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center (GBTRGHSC) in Palo.

The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 was principally authored and sponsored by Go. It aims to bring hospital bills of particularly poor and indigent patients to the lowest possible amount. The center is a one-stop shop where DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation are brought together to provide Filipinos more convenient access to government medical assistance.

Finally, the senator commended the local government officials for staying true to their role as public servants especially amid these trying times.

Go, who is also a Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the construction of flood control structures in Barangay Odion and the rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads in Barangays Manlilisid, Nalitawan and Batug in Javier.

He was also instrumental in other projects throughout the province such as the construction of multipurpose buildings in Abuyog, Alangalang, Babatngon, Carigara, Dagami, Isabel, Jaro, Sta. Fe and La Paz; construction of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management building in Barangay Jones in Pastrana; construction of Tacloban Airport and installation of road studs in Tacloban City; and the rehabilitation of public markets in Inopacan and Mahaplag.

Go also extended his support in the construction of farm-to-market roads in Hilongos, MacArthur, Matalom, Mayorga and San Miguel; flood control protection works in Alangalang, Tanauan and Tolosa; acquisition of multipurpose vehicles in Burauen and Tolosa; and acquisition of dump trucks in Inopacan, Isabel and Villaba.

To further improve the delivery of health services in the province, Go had sponsored and successfully pushed for the passage of two bills which increased the bed capacity of the EVRMC and converted the Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital into the GBTRGHSC.

Go's team previously conducted relief operations for 1,019 rice farmers in Javier on November 22. Residents in Julita and Mayorga were also set to receive assistance from the senator on the following day, December 9. (OSBG)