PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated as his team distributed assistance to disadvantaged residents in San Juan City on Saturday, April 23.
The distribution took place at the San Juan gymnasium where Go’s team handed out masks and meals to 2,000 residents. They also provided shoes, bicycles and phablets to select individuals.
Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, extended financial support through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
“Mga kababayan ko, sana po ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. Alam ko po na mahirap pa rin po ang panahon ngayon dulot ng COVID-19 pero nakikiusap po ako sa inyo na kaunting tiis na lamang po at malalagpasan din po natin ang krisis na ito bilang nagkakaisang Pilipino,” Go encouraged in his video message.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, he underscored the need for the eligible residents to get inoculated and boosted against COVID-19 to safeguard themselves and their respective communities from the virus.
Although vaccination remains voluntary, Go once again urged those qualified to get jabbed, noting how the government’s national vaccination program has significantly helped in the decline of active COVID-19 cases in the country.
“Nakikita naman po natin na bumababa na ang mga kaso ng COVID-19 at patunay lamang ito na talagang ang bakuna ang tanging susi at solusyon sa ngayon upang malagpasan natin ang pandemyang ito. Kaya nakikiusap po ako sa inyo na magpabakuna na po kayo, libre lang naman ito mga kababayan ko,” Go reiterated.
“Kung mahal niyo po ang inyong pamilya, kung mahal niyo po ang inyong mga anak, isipin niyo po ang kaligtasan niyo at magpabakuna na po kayo. Kahit po bumababa na ang mga aktibong kaso, importante pa rin po na kayo ay protektado lalo na sa mga severe symptoms nitong COVID-19,” he stressed.
Continuing his remarks, he urged those with health concerns to visit any of the 31 Malasakit Centers across Metro Manila, including the one at San Juan Medical Center in San Juan City to help them with their medical expenses.
Designed to assist poor and indigent Filipinos, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where all relevant agencies are brought together under one roof to ensure that medical assistance programs are within the patients’ reach. The Malasakit Centers program has successfully assisted more than three million Filipinos with 151 operational centers nationwide. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act.
The senator then lauded the local government officials for ensuring that their communities are well-supported and for keeping their constituents safe especially amid the ongoing health crisis.
“Basta, ‘wag kayong mag-atubiling lumapit sa amin. Huwag din kayong magpasalamat sa amin dahil trabaho naman namin ito ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Kami ang nagpapasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon para makapagserbisyo sa taumbayan. Ibabalik namin sa inyo ang serbisyong dapat sa inyo,” expressed Go.
On April 7, Go attended the opening of the Center for Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City. On April 12, the senator’s team also mounted a similar relief activity for thousands of indigent residents in San Juan City. (OSBG)