PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s outreach team on June 16 and 17 continued the delivery of aid to the micro-entrepreneurs of Tarlac City who have been adversely affected by the ongoing global health crisis.

Go’s personnel distributed grocery packs, vitamins, meals and masks to a total of 6,000 beneficiaries in batches at the Kaisa Convention Hall and Barangay Tibag evacuation center. 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.

“Hindi lahat maaaring makapaghanap ng trabaho ngayon, lalo na’t dahan-dahan pa lang bumabalik ang sigla ng ekonomiya. Kaya dapat suportahan natin ang mga kababayan nating nais magsimula ng kanilang sariling negosyo. Dapat turuan at tulungan natin sila mabigyan ng kapital,” Go said in a video message.

“Sama-sama nating ibabalik ang sigla ng ating kabuhayan. Mga kababayan ko, bukas ang aming opisina ni Pangulo Rodrigo Duterte sa kung ano pa ang pwede naming maitulong sa inyong lahat,” he added.

In addition, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed livelihood grants through its Sustainable Livelihood Program so the beneficiaries can start anew and support their families.

“Salamat po sa DSWD at iba pang ahensya sa mga programa nilang pangkabuhayan. Sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang programang ito, mabibigyan ang mga nangangailangan ng puhunan, tuturuang magnegosyo, at tutulungang palaguin ito,” Go said.

“Mas masarap nga naman ang pakiramdam kapag pinaghirapan at pinagpawisan ang pagnenegosyo sa tamang paraan. Dalhin ninyo ang kita sa inyong mga pamilya at gamitin ito nang tama para makaahon po tayo sa paghihirap na pinagdadaanan natin ngayon,” he added.

Continuing his message, Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, encouraged eligible residents to get vaccinated to help the country’s economy recover from the challenges brought by the pandemic.

Senator Go then offered additional aid to those with health concerns. He advised them to avail of medical assistance programs through the Malasakit Center at Tarlac Provincial Hospital in the city.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Launched by Go in 2018, the program has since established 151 centers nationwide and assisted more than three million particularly poor and indigent patients.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported many local initiatives to improve access to jobs, markets, and public services. These include the rehabilitation or concreting of the Tibag-Armenia Road, San Jose-Balanti Road, and other roads in Barangays Baras-Baras, San Jose de Urquico, Santo Domingo, and Santo Niño; and improvement of the flood control structures along the Moriones River in Tarlac City.

Other initiatives include the construction or improvement of roads in Bamban, Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Pura, Santa Ignacia, San Jose and Victoria; multipurpose buildings in San Manuel and Victoria; and a new public market in Bambam.

Ending his remarks, Go commended the local government officials for their dedication and commitment to help their community recover amid the global health crisis.

“Alam ko po mahirap ang panahon ngayon dahil nasa gitna po tayo ng krisis dulot ng COVID-19. Magtulungan lang tayo mga kababayan ko. Sino ba namang magtutulungan kundi tayo lang po kapwa natin mga Pilipino,” he ended.

On June 15, Go also paid a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital. The senator also accompanied Duterte at New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, for an inspection of NAS. The facility, according to Go, is a gift to the Filipino youth from the Duterte Administration on June 14. (OSBG)