PADSAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains focused on protecting the well-being of the Filipino people, especially amid the global health crisis, as he continues to encourage poor and indigent patients to visit any of the 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide if they need medical assistance from the government.
Go sent his team to deliver assistance to 2,000 vulnerable residents in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental on Wednesday, July 6. The team mounted two separate activities at the respective gymnasiums of Barangays Tibanban and Poblacion for a more orderly distribution of relief to thousands of struggling residents.
In his video message, the senator, who heads the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reminded the public to make health their utmost priority and encouraged them to visit Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center in Mati City where there is a Malasakit Center available to assist them with their medical concerns and needs.
“Sa panahon po ngayon, napakahalaga po talaga ng ating kalusugan. Kaya mga kababayan ko, huwag na po kayong mag-atubili pang pumunta ng hospital kung kayo po ay may nararamdaman. Huwag niyo na po alalahanin ang babayarin dahil meron naman po tayong Malasakit Center,” Go encouraged.
“Ito pong Malasakit Center ay batas na na pinirmahan ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Para po ito sa mga poor and indigent Filipinos. Nakikiusap din po ako sa ating bagong lider na si Pangulong (Ferdinand) “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. na ipagpatuloy ang programang ito at palakasin pa lalo dahil mahigit tatlong milyong Pilipino na po ang natulungan nito,” urged Go.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program was initiated in 2018 to ensure that low-income Filipinos can conveniently access medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Meanwhile, the senator also took the opportunity to encourage those eligible to get inoculated against COVID-19, underscoring how vaccines can boost their defenses against the virus and help their respective communities attain population protection leading to herd immunity.
“Kung mahal niyo po ang inyong mga pamilya, magpabakuna na po kayo. Libre naman po ito at pinaghirapan po ito ng gobyerno. Huwag po natin ibalik sa dati na napupuno po ang mga hospital dahil tumataas na naman po ang kaso. Tulungan po natin ang ating mga frontliners, malaking bagay na po ang magpabakuna kayo,” he appealed.
Go’s team handed out relief items, including vitamins, masks, shirts and snacks to the residents. They also provided bicycles, phablets, watches, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select individuals.
Furthermore, DSWD provided livelihood grants as part of the government’s efforts to give Filipinos more economic opportunities to alleviate their financial burden amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from the assistance provided, the senator also extended his support to several initiatives in the province to further boost its development amid crisis situations. These include the rehabilitation of roads in several barangays, installation of solar LED lights along the National Road in Brgy. Bagumbayan, construction of potable water systems in Brgy. Bagumbayan, construction of a flood mitigation structure along Sumlog River, and the construction of IP Community Learning Center in Brgy. Don Mariano. He also supported the construction of four Super Health Centers in the province.
“Pakiusap ko po sa inyong lahat na palagi po tayong mag-iingat. Ako naman po, kahit lumiit ang aking kapasidad, senador niyo pa rin ako hanggang 2025 kaya pangako ko po sa inyo na pagsisilbihan ko po kayo sa abot ng aking makakaya,” Go concluded.
On the previous day, the senator’s team also mounted a similar outreach activity for thousands of residents in San Isidro, Davao Oriental. (OSBG)
