PASAY CITY -- On Saturday, March 20, concerned government agencies continued its relief efforts for distressed communities in the province of Leyte, this time assisting 1,000 residents in Tacloban City. Meanwhile, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called for continued cooperation and bayanihan among Filipinos to attain pandemic recovery.

Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial support to each beneficiary. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, meanwhile, provided qualified individuals with livelihood assistance and scholarship grants, respectively.

Meanwhile, Go’s team also distributed masks and snacks. They also provided new pairs of shoes and bicycles to select individuals as well as computer tablets to aid in their children’s studies.

“Sa mga estudyante, mag-aral ho kayo nang mabuti. Kayo po ang kinabukasan ng bayang ito, ‘yan po ang puhunan natin sa mundong ito – edukasyon. At sasaya ang inyong mga magulang ‘pag nakapagtapos kayo ng pag-aaral. Sa mga kabataan, mag-aral po kayo nang mabuti," said Go in a video message.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go urged the eligible beneficiaries to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible. He also reminded everyone to continue following the mandated health protocols even after receiving their complete vaccine shots.

The senator then advised the residents in need of medical attention to visit any of the five 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 in Ormoc City; and Leyte Provincial Hospital and Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center (GBTRGHSC), both in Palo.

A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program aims to provide poor and indigent patients convenient access to medical assistance programs from various government agencies, namely, the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

"Iyan pong Malasakit Center para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Batas na po ito na isinulong ko noon at pinirmahan ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte," shared the senator.

"Ang Malasakit Center ay one-stop shop. Nasa loob na ho ng ospital ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Iyan po ang Malasakit Center. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center na malapit sa inyong mga lugar," he added.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported the construction of a road and installation of solar road studs in Tacloban City.

Other major initiatives he supported include the construction of multipurpose buildings in Abuyog, Alangalang, Babatngon, Carigara, Dagami, Isabel, Jaro, La Paz, Leyte, Sante Fe and Tolosa; construction of an evacuation center in Abuyog; construction of the Merida Community Hospital; construction of flood control structures in Alangalang, Javier, Tanauan and Tolosa; and acquisition of dump trucks for the local governments of Inopacan, Isabel and Villaba.

To strengthen the resilience of the local health system, Go also 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 in 2021.

“Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Dahil naniniwala po kami na ang serbisyo po sa tao ay serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos," assured Go.

"Mga minamahal kong kababayan, mahal na mahal po namin kayo. Nandirito lang po ako, magseserbisyo po sa inyo ng mayroong malasakit at mula sa puso. Salamat po," he ended.

On March 18, Go’s team conducted similar distribution activities for 2,000 residents of Hindang and Santa Fe in Leyte. On March 17, he also personally witnessed the ceremonial turnover of financial assistance from the Office of the President for the development of the health sector in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar at the New Capitol Building in Palo, Leyte. (OSBG)