PASAY CITY -- The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go mounted relief operations from March 21 to 22 for over a thousand indigents, senior citizens, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and solo parents in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.
In his video message, Go renewed his appeal to the eligible public to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. He also asked the local leaders to step up their vaccination efforts, saying, “Paigtingin pa natin ang vaccine rollout at suyurin natin ang mga pamamahay ng mga kababayan nating hindi makapunta sa vaccination sites upang masigurong mabigyan sila ng proteksyon laban sa sakit at walang maiiwan tungo sa muling pagbangon ng ating bansa.”
The senator’s staff conducted the distributions at the Plaza Concepcion wherein they grouped the 1,668 residents into smaller batches and implemented the necessary health protocols to ensure everyone’s safety.
They distributed masks and meals as well as new pairs of shoes, bicycles and computer tablets to select individuals.
In a separate distribution, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to each resident.
Meanwhile, Go offered additional assistance to the beneficiaries with health concerns as he advised them to visit any of the three Malasakit Centers in the province should they need medical attention.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies, such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, work hand-in-hand to assist poor and indigent patients by reducing their hospital bills to the lowest amount possible.
The Malasakit Centers are located at Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Hospital and Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (DR. PJGMRMC), both in Cabanatuan City, and Talavera General Hospital in Talavera.
“Mga kababayan ko, mayro’n na po tayong 151 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center diyan po malapit sa inyong lugar,” said Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
“Hindi niyo na kailangan pumila o umikot pa sa iba’t ibang opisina para humingi ng tulong pampagamot dahil nasa loob na sila ng iisang kwarto. Lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center at wala itong pinipili. Karapatan niyo bilang mga Pilipino ang maka-avail ng serbisyo nito,” he continued.
In demonstration of his commitment as an adopted son of Nueva Ecija and dedicated to accelerating the economic progress in the province, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has also supported the construction of the city’s water supply system and a reinforced concrete deck girder bridge in Barangay Langka.
He likewise extended support in the rehabilitation of roads in Cabiao, General Tinio, Pantabangan, Zaragoza and Cabanatuan City; construction of flood mitigation structures in General Tinio, San Antonio and Zaragoza; construction of multipurpose buildings in Gabaldon, Sta. Rosa and Cabanatuan City; reconstruction of the Llanera public market; rehabilitation of the Baloc public market; and installation of streetlights in Zaragoza.
Furthermore, Go sponsored a measure in the Senate that aims to increase the bed capacity of DR. PJGMRMC from 400 to 1,000 beds.
In the end, Go acknowledged the local officials who continue to serve their constituents amid these challenging times.
“Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang po tayo. Sino ba namang magtutulungan kung hindi tayo lang po kapwa nating mga Pilipino? Magbayanihan po tayo, magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” Go concluded.
The senator’s team conducted similar distributions for indigents and senior citizens in the town of Quezon last March 16 and 17. (OSBG)
