PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Monday, February 14, assured that the government is doing its utmost to provide help and support to Filipinos in crisis situations despite the unprecedented challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created.

In a video message during a relief operation in San Fernando City, La Union, Go urged the public to come together to help their neighbors in need. He also encouraged them to continue cooperating with the government as the country slowly moves toward the recovery phase of the pandemic.

“Mga kababayan, magtulungan lang tayo, magmalasakit at magbayanihan upang malampasan natin ang mga krisis na ating hinaharap. Huwag tayo mawalan ng pag-asa dahil hindi kayo pababayaan ng administrasyong ito. Nandidito kami ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte handang magserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya,” said Go.

The senator’s team carried out two distribution activities at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University gymnasium and Barangay 3 Hall in strict compliance with the health and safety protocols. They provided meals and masks to a total of 263 micro-entrepreneurs and fire victims, who also received financial assistance and food packs to aid their recovery.

The team gave selected beneficiaries new shoes and computer tablets which their children can use while studying at home.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development similarly distributed separate financial assistance under its Sustainable Livelihood and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Programs.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go urged the beneficiaries in his message to exercise compassion by following the mandated protocols.

He offered to assist those with medical concerns and informed them that they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government through the Malasakit Center at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) in the said city.

The Malasakit Center aims to make medical assistance programs more accessible by putting together all concerned agencies under one roof, including the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. It seeks to cover various expenses and reduce the hospital bills of particularly poor and indigent patients to the lowest possible amount.

“May dagdag pondo na iniwan ang Office of the President diyan para wala ng dahilan para hindi kayo tulungan. Ngayon, kung may hindi kayang gamutin diyan sa La Union, magsabi lang kayo at kami na ni Pangulong Duterte ang sasalo sa inyo,” reassured Go, who principally authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

The senator ended his message thanking various officials for their selfless service to their community, namely 1st District Representative Pablo Ortega, Governor Francisco Ortega III, Vice Governor Mario Ortega, Mayor Hermenegildo Gualberto and Vice Mayor Alfredo Ortega.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, Go and his team continue to reach out to thousands of Filipinos in crisis situations. His office provided assistance to 144 micro-entrepreneurs in Bagulin, Burgos and Naguilian last February 11 as well as other affected sectors in the province the past weeks.

Meanwhile, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he also supported the rehabilitation and improvement of the provincial capitol, construction of the Sevilla Multi-Purpose Center, and construction of a road from Barangays Cadaclan to Masicong in San Fernando City.

Other major initiatives include the construction and improvement of roads in Aringay, Bagulin, Burgos, Naguilan, Rosario and San Gabriel; construction of a multipurpose center in Caba; construction of slope protection in Bacnotan; acquisition of multi-purpose vehicles and rehabilitation of a multi-purpose building in Balaoan; and the acquisition of an ambulance and a multi-purpose vehicle in Bangar.

To improve the delivery of vital health services, Go also successfully pushed for the bill that became Republic Act No. 11562, which increased the bed capacity of the Rosario District Hospital.

More recently, he sponsored Senate Bill No. 2342 which seeks to increase the bed capacity of the ITRMC from 300 to 800 beds. The measure has been approved on the third and final reading in the Senate, together with 14 other local hospital bills that he also sponsored. (OSBG)