PASAY CITY -- Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized lessons learned from the ongoing pandemic, the most important of which is the need to prioritize personal health.

He advised the public to avail of medical services when needed as his team conducted an aid mission for indigent residents in Pura, Tarlac on Tuesday, April 12.

Go’s personnel distributed meals and masks to a total of 333 beneficiaries in batches at the Saint Antoninus Parish. To ensure everyone’s safety, the activity was conducted in strict compliance with government-issued protocols against COVID-19.

Select persons also received new pairs of shoes and bicycles for traveling while others received computer tablets for their children to participate better in their blended learning activities.

In a separate distribution, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial assistance.

The senator further advised those in need of medical assistance to avail of the services of the Malasakit Center at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital in Tarlac City.

The center is a one-stop shop which aims to make government medical assistance programs more accessible by putting the concerned agencies, namely the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, under one roof.

Its primary task is to reduce a hospital bill to the lowest amount possible by covering various patient services and expenses, pursuant to the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate.

“Iyan po ang 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 Duterte,” said Go.

“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 malapit sa inyong mga lugar,” he added.

The lawmaker proceeded to remind the members of the indigenous community to remain vigilant and get vaccinated against COVID-19 once eligible. He assured them that the government is fast-tracking the vaccine rollout throughout the country to ensure that no one is left behind.

“Mayroon lang ho kaming pakiusap ni Pangulong Duterte sa inyo, ‘wag kayong matakot sa bakuna, matakot kayo sa COVID-19. Ang bakuna ang solusyon para makabalik na tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay katulad noon. Magtiwala tayo sa gobyerno dahil ginagawa nito ang lahat sa abot ng makakaya nito upang malampasan natin ang krisis na 'to,” he added.

In the end, Go recognized and thanked local officials for their hard work and dedication.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported many initiatives to boost the infrastructure and contribute to the economic progress of Tarlac. These include the improvement of a road in Pura.

He also supported the construction and improvement of roads in Sta. Ignacia; the construction of a new public market; rehabilitation of the dike along the Lourdes section of the Marimla River; and procurement of an ambulance for the local government of Bamban.

Other major initiatives he supported include the construction or improvement of roads in Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, San Jose, Victoria and Tarlac City; improvement of the flood control structures along the Moriones River in Tarlac City; and construction of multipurpose buildings in San Manuel and Victoria. (OSBG)