PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided relief to almost a thousand indigents in Olongapo City, Zambales on Tuesday, April 12, as he renewed his call to the government to further boost vaccine confidence among Filipinos especially in remote areas.
Go’s team handed out meals and masks to a total of 999 low-income residents at the Holy Spirit Covered Court. They also provided bicycles, shoes and cellphones to select individuals.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial aid to each resident through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
In a video message, Go acknowledged the challenges caused by the global pandemic and reassured that the government continues to carefully consider public health as it gradually reopens the economy. He also stressed that as long as everyone remains disciplined and cooperative with the government’s pandemic efforts, the country will return to normalcy soon.
The senator then reiterated that while more Filipinos are getting inoculated, it is important to build stronger vaccine confidence among communities to encourage those who are eligible but still hesitant to get jabbed and further raise awareness on how significant vaccines are in the fight against the pandemic.
“Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna, mga kababayan ko. Ito lang po ang tanging susi o paraan sa ngayon upang makabalik na tayo sa normal na pamumuhay. Huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna, mas nakakatakot po ang matamaan ng COVID-19 dahil mas marami pa po itong komplikasyon na maidudulot,” Go emphasized.
“Ako naman po ay nagpapasalamat sa mga kapwa kong Pilipino na nagpabakuna na. Kahit hindi naman po ito mandato, tulungan niyo po kami sa gobyerno na hikayatin ang mga mamamayan na magpabakuna na. Dahil nakikita niyo naman po, unti-unti na pong bumabalik ang sigla ng ekonomiya nang dahil sa bakuna,” he continued.
Meanwhile, the senator, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also reached out to the beneficiaries with health concerns and advised them to visit President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital in Iba where there is a Malasakit Center ready to assist them with their hospital expenses.
The Malasakit Center was initiated by Go in 2018 and was designed to provide convenient access to medical assistance programs by the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. It was then institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go primarily authored and sponsored in the Senate.
“Mayroon na tayong 151 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong. Para 'yan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Para sa Pilipino. Kami naman ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ay nandidito lang handang magserbisyo sa abot ng aming makakaya. Huwag po kayong mag-atubiling lumapit sa amin kung may maitutulong kami sa inyo,” reassured Go.
He then ended his message by expressing his gratitude towards the local officials of the city for always working hand-in-hand to ensure their community is well-supported, especially during these unprecedented times.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported several projects in the province to ensure its progress even amid pandemic. Among these are the rehabilitation of roads in Olongapo City, Botolan, Masinloc, San Felipe, and San Marcelino; rehabilitation of the public market in San Antonio; construction of a seawall in in Masinloc; and construction of two multipurpose buildings, and installation of solar powered street lights in Botolan.
Last April 1, the team of Go conducted a similar distribution activity in Iba for 660 struggling residents. (OSBG)
