PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided assistance to residents from various sectoral groups in Cadiz City and Manapla town in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, April 6, as part of his commitment to help boost the recovery of those adversely affected by the pandemic.
“Marami po ang nawalan ng trabaho, marami po ang nagsara ng negosyo dahil po sa pagsara ng ekonomiya dahil tumataas po ang kaso. Kaya naman nakikiusap po kami sa inyong kooperasyon para sa ating mabilis na pagbangon,” Go appealed in his video message.
The senator’s team organized the distribution activities at the Cadiz Arena and Manapla Municipal Gym where they assisted a total of 1,000 individuals who were divided into smaller batches, in compliance with the pertinent health and safety protocols.
They distributed snacks and masks and gave select individuals new pairs of shoes, bicycles and computer tablets.
Go thanked the government agencies who were also present to help the residents cope with the challenges brought by the pandemic.
Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development separately distributed financial aid while the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority determined potential beneficiaries for their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.
Continuing his message, Go reached out to those with health concerns and offered them additional aid. He also advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.
The center is a one-stop shop that brings together agencies which offer medical assistance such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Its primary aim is to reduce a patient’s hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various patient services and expenses.
“Mayro’n na ho tayong 151 na Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop. Nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno–PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing,” the senator remarked.
“Ang Malasakit Center po ay batas na isinulong ko noon, pinirmahan ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients, lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center. Handa pong tumulong ‘yan sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” added Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
Meanwhile, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go urged the eligible beneficiaries to get inoculated against COVID-19. He also commended the local leaders for their continuing public service and reminded them to ensure that all residents, especially those who are more prone to the virus, have easier access to the vaccines.
Also serving as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the senator supported several initiatives to boost economic development and improve public service delivery in the province. These include the construction of multipurpose buildings in Himamaylan City, maintenance of roads in Bago City, and construction of a new infectious diseases wing at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
To ensure that the province can overcome the ongoing pandemic and build its resilience against other health crises, Go also successfully pushed for the passage of a bill in the Senate that will establish the Bacolod City General Hospital. The bill was signed into law by President Duterte on June 24.
“Importante sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte ang buhay po at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Buhay po natin, pangalagaan po natin. Kalusugan po natin, pangalagaan po natin,” he ended. (OSBG)
