PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s outreach team mounted a two-day relief activity in Moalboal, Cebu on July 25 and 26, for the town’s struggling residents who have been adversely affected by the ongoing global health crisis.

Go’s team handed out masks and snacks to a total of 1,547 residents at the Cebu Technological University-Moalboal campus covered court. Furthermore, they gave away shoes, phablets and bicycles to select individuals.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial aid through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

“Hindi po kayo pababayaan ng gobyerno. Asahan niyo po na ako ay tutulong sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Patuloy lang ang ating pagbabayanihan at makakabangon din tayo muli bilang nagkakaisa at mas matatag na bansa,” Go expressed in a video message.

The senator then encouraged the eligible public to set aside their hesitation and get vaccinated against COVID-19 immediately, stressing that vaccines will significantly boost their defenses against the virus and help their community attain population protection leading to herd immunity.

“Mga kababayan ko, magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna. Magpabakuna na po kayo para po protektado kayo at ang inyong pamilya,” Go said.

“Kung mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga anak, kung mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga pamilya, magpabakuna na po kayo. Kailangan lang po ang kooperasyon, kailangan rin po ang disiplina ng bawat isa,” he added.

Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also encouraged the residents with health concerns to seek government aid from any of the six Malasakit Centers in the province.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent Filipinos can conveniently avail medical assistance from concerned government agencies, such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. There are currently 151 operational centers nationwide.

Malasakit Centers in the province are located at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, both in Cebu City; Eversley Childs Sanitarium Hospital in Mandaue City; Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City; Lapu-Lapu District Hospital in Lapu-Lapu City; and Cebu Provincial Hospital-Carcar in Carcar City.

“Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – ‘yung PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD, tutulong po sa inyo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing,” said Go, who is the primary author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act.

“Para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients at dapat po mayro’ng express lane para sa mga disabled at senior citizens sa mga Malasakit Center. Malasakit Center – para po ‘yan sa Pilipino,” he added.

To further support the province’s healthcare system, the lawmaker also recently sponsored a bill which will increase the bed capacity of the VSMMC from 1,200 to 1,500 beds. It was approved on the third and final reading in the Senate last January, together with 14 other local hospital bills which Go likewise sponsored.

Concluding his message, the senator lauded the local government officials of Moalboal for their consistent service to their constituents, especially during these challenging times.

Last July 20, Go also sent his team to Cebu City to provide aid to fire victims in Barangay Duljo Fatima. (OSBG)