PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his appeal to the national government to strengthen and hasten its vaccination efforts in more far-flung communities across the country as he remains dedicated in supporting more vulnerable sectors that are adversely affected by the pandemic.
On Tuesday, April 26, the outreach team of Go conducted a relief activity for 1,660 indigents in Leon Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte. In his video message, Go also urged those eligible to get their complete vaccine and booster shots and reminded everyone to comply with the necessary health protocols.
“Mga kababayan ko, delikado po ang COVID-19. If the virus finds you, it will infect you. Napakahirap po nitong COVID-19. Please lang po, dapat po’y protektado kayo. Kung mahal ninyo po ang inyong mga pamilya at inyong mga anak, magpabakuna na po kayo,” Go urged.
“Pakiusap namin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, maging disiplinado at ‘wag maging kumpiyansa. Magtulungan tayong lahat para malampasan natin ang krisis na ito,” he continued.
The distribution was held at the Leon Postigo Gymnasium where the senator’s team grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches before handing out masks and snacks. Select residents were also given bicycles, shoes and phablets.
Meanwhile, representatives from several government agencies provided separate assistance to improve the living conditions of the residents amid the pandemic and other crisis situations.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial support while the Department of Health distributed additional masks.
Furthermore, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry assessed potential beneficiaries for their respective livelihood programs. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, conducted a free National Certificate or NC2 TESDA courses training.
Senator Go, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered additional assistance to the residents with health concerns. He urged them to visit any of the two Malasakit Centers in the province, including Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City and Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where partnered agencies, such as DSWD, DOH, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, are brought together to assist poor and indigent Filipinos lower their medical expenses. There are already 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide. Go primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act.
