PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's office continues to work with various government agencies to battle the COVID-19 pandemic by assisting individuals and businesses which have been adversely affected by the public health emergency.

On March 22 and 23, Go's team conducted relief efforts in Carcar City, Cebu. In a video message, Go empathized with the residents and assured them that the national government is providing all available support for them. He also urged local governments to support such efforts, emphasizing the critical role they play in meeting the needs of their constituents.

“Mga kababayan, magtulungan, magmalasakit at magbayanihan tayo sa ating kapwa. Huwag tayo mawalan ng pag-asa dahil nandito ang gobyernong palaging nagmamalasakit sa inyo. Hinding-hindi kayo pababayaan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at ng administrasyong ito,” Go said in a video message.

“Pakiusap ko sa mga mayor at kapitan, huwag niyong pabayaan ang mga kabarangay niyo, lalung-lalo na ‘yung mga mahihirap, dahil kayo lang ang matatakbuhan nila,” he stressed.

Go’s team provided snacks and masks to 1,666 residents at the Nice Hall in Carcar City Hall. They also gave select individuals new pairs of shoes or computer tablets for their children’s educational needs.

In another distribution, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial aid. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments for their livelihood and scholarship programs, respectively.

The senator then offered to help those needing medical care and advised them to avail the services of their nearest Malasakit Center. He initiated the establishment of the first Malasakit Center at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City in 2018 with the aim of providing convenient access to government medical aid.

The center is a one-stop shop which connects poor and other financially incapacitated patients with the national agencies that offer medical assistance, namely, the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

A Malasakit Center has also been opened each at the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City, St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital in Cebu City, Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, and the Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City.

"Masaya akong mayroon na tayong 151 na Malasakit Centers. Sunud-sunod na ‘to. Sabi ko nga, bilisan na natin kung maaari ang pagbubukas ng mga ito para magamit na ng mga pasyente, lalung-lalo na nung mga poor at indigent, ‘yung tulong na para sa kanila,” noted Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

The lawmaker also recently sponsored a bill which seeks to increase the bed capacity of the VSMMC from 1,200 to 1,500 beds. The measure, along with 14 other local hospital bills, was approved on the third and final reading at the Senate last January.

In the end, Go thanked local officials for their service during these challenging times.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has likewise supported various initiatives that aim to improve access to key services and enhance the overall quality of life in Cebu province. He supported the funding for the concreting of local roads in Carcar City as well as other infrastructure projects in the province to boost regional development.

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

The activities were conducted in strict compliance with the government-issued health and safety protocols. On March 19, Go's office also assisted 1,332 residents of Catmon and Borbon. (OSBG)