PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go pledged his continuous support for Filipinos worst-hit by various crises. He urged the public to continue complying with health protocols to hasten pandemic recovery as his team conducted distribution activities for various sectoral groups in Alcantara, Cebu on Monday, March 7.

“Mga kababayan ko, tuluy-tuloy po ang pagbabakuna, importante po ito. Bagama’t bakunado na rin po kayo ay sumunod pa rin po tayo sa mga health protocols - face mask, social distancing at hugas ng kamay. Ingat po kayo parati,” Go reminded the residents.

“Importante po malampasan natin itong krisis na dulot ng COVID-19 na nagkakaisang mamamayang Pilipino. Salamat po,” he added.

Go’s team distributed meals and masks to a total of 992 individuals at the covered courts of Cabadiangan, Poblacion, and Candabong in Alcantara. They also gave select individuals new pairs of shoes and computer tablets.

Moreover, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial assistance.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted evaluations for their respective assistance programs.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go also offered to help those with medical concerns. He advised them to visit the nearest Malasakit Center which provides a streamlined process for requesting medical assistance from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

As of writing, a Malasakit Center has been opened each at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital in Cebu City, Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City, and Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City.

“Nasa loob na ng ospital ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong sa inyo para maging ‘zero balance’ ang inyong billing. Tuluy-tuloy lang ang programang ito dahil para sa amin ng Pangulo, hindi dapat pinahihirapan ang mga pasyente. Dapat tinulungan natin sila para hindi na sila pumipila sa iba’t ibang ahensya para makahingi ng tulong mula sa gobyerno,” explained Go, who authored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

He concluded his message by thanking the local officials for serving their constituents.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported several infrastructure initiatives that aim to improve the delivery of public services and foster economic growth in Alcantara, such as the rehabilitation and concreting of various roads.

Other major initiatives include the construction of multipurpose buildings in Barili, Cordova, Ginatilan, Pilar, Poro, Tabogon and Talisay City; improvement of existing roads in Alcoy, Alegria, Asturias, Balamban, Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Madrilejos, Malabuyoc, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Pinamungajan, Poro, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Carcar City and Naga City; improvement of flood mitigation structures in Catmon and Tuburan; installation of street lights in Daanbantayan, Asturias and Compostela; and acquisition of ambulance units for the local governments of Madrilejos and Naga City.

The lawmaker also recently sponsored a bill which will increase the bed capacity of the VSMMC from 1,200 to 1,500 beds to strengthen the city’s capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure has been approved on the third and final reading in the Senate, together with 14 other local hospital bills.

Finally, Go reaffirmed his commitment to continue working with the local leaders to ensure the safety and welfare of Cebuanos.

"Mga kaigsuonan, mga Bisaya, daghang salamat sa inyong tabang sa amoa ni Presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte. Kami pud, mga Bisaya man pud mi, utang kabubut-on, dili kalimtan. Ug timan-i ninyo, mga Bisaya, pinalangga mo namo ni Presidente Duterte," he remarked.

("Sa mga kapatid ko, mga Bisaya, maraming salamat sa inyong tulong sa amin ni Presidente [Rodrigo] Duterte. Kami rin, mga Bisaya rin kami, utang na loob, hindi nalilimutan. At tandaan ninyo, mga Bisaya, mahal namin kayo ni Presidente Duterte.") (OSBG)