PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains committed to providing unhampered service to more struggling communities nationwide as his team distributed assistance to vulnerable households in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan on Thursday, April 28.

“Masaya po ako ngayon dahil nakikita po natin na unti-unti na po tayong bumabalik sa normal na pamumuhay. Basta po tuluy-tuloy lang po ang ating kooperasyon at disiplina,” Go expressed in his video message.

The senator then reminded the public to always prioritize their health, especially with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go then encouraged the 402 beneficiaries in attendance to take part in the national vaccination program to protect them from the virus, saying, “Mga kababayan ko, magpabakuna na po kayo. Ngayon po na may bago na naman pong variant, mas importante po lalo na bakunado kayo.”

“Nasa datos naman po, ‘pag kayo po’y bakunado, mas protektado po kayo sa pagkasakit ng COVID-19 o ito pong grabeng pagkasakit ng COVID-19 at maiiwasan po ang pagkamatay ‘pag kayo po ay protektado,” he reiterated.

Go’s staff mounted the distribution activity at the San Jose del Monte City Convention Center where they handed out meals and masks to the residents. They also provided phablets, bicycles and shoes to select individuals.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, in turn, provided cash assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Continuing his message, Senator Go encouraged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the medical assistance programs conveniently accessible at any of the two Malasakit Centers in the province located at Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria and Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City.

The center is a one-stop shop where partnered agencies, such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, help particularly poor and indigent Filipinos reduce their hospital expenses by covering various patient services and fees. To date, there are 151 operational centers nationwide.

“Isinulong ko po itong Malasakit Center, batas na po ito na pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Para po ito sa mga mahihirap. Huwag po kayong mahihiya magpatingin ng inyong sakit dahil mahalaga po ang bawat buhay ninyo,” said Go, who primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

Go, who is also Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has supported several infrastructure initiatives in the city, including the rehabilitation of the City Convention Center, construction of multipurpose buildings in various barangays, construction of a criminology building inside San Jose del Monte City College, and the construction of flood control structures in Brgy. Dulong Bayan.

He was also instrumental in the passage of a hospital bill that would establish Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bocaue.

In the end, Go expressed his gratitude towards the local officials for their immeasurable service to their constituents amid the pandemic.

“Mga kababayan, magtiwala lang kayo sa inyong gobyerno, magtiwala kayo sa bakuna at magtulungan lang tayo. Sino lang ba ang magtutulungan kung ‘di tayo lang din kapwa nating Pilipino,” Go encouraged.

“Salamat sa inyong lahat, mag-ingat at magdasal tayo palagi. Mahal namin kayo ni Presidente Duterte. Salamat sa inyong lahat,” he ended.

Last April 22, Go’s team also gave relief to more indigents in the town of Baliuag. (OSBG)