PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go stressed the need to strengthen measures that would hasten the country’s economic recovery as his team conducted a relief operation in Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte on Tuesday, March 15, to help ease the adverse impacts of the global health crisis on various sectoral groups.
Go’s team assisted 1,663 individuals, composed of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) members, vendors, farmers and entertainers at the Rizal Municipal Gymnasium.
In his video message, Go reminded the beneficiaries to continue adhering to the mandated health protocols despite the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. He also urged those eligible to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
“Marami ang nahihirapan, maraming nagsara na negosyo, maraming nawalan ng trabaho. Kaya ang kinakailangan, kooperasyon at disiplina ng ating mga kababayan. Pakiusap lang, magtulungan lang tayo at mahalin natin ang ating kapwa,” Go remarked.
The senator’s staff distributed masks and snacks, and gave select individuals new pairs of shoes, bicycles and computer tablets.
Through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial support to the residents.
In addition, the Department of Health provided additional supplies of masks while the Department of Agriculture handed out plant seeds.
Lastly, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority assessed potential beneficiaries of their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.
“Salamat po sa lahat ng tumulong. Salamat sa mga frontliners. Salamat po sa mga pulis. Salamat sa mga militar. Salamat sa mga bumbero. Salamat po sa mga ahensya na tumulong. Huwag n'yo pong pabayaan ang ating mga kababayang mahihirap,” expressed Go.
As he continues to push for better access to quality healthcare, Go, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, encouraged those with medical concerns to seek assistance from any of the Malasakit Centers located at the Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City and Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which mandates all hospitals that are administered and managed by the DOH, as well as the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City, to have their own Malasakit Center.
“Mga kababayan ko, mayroon na ho tayong 151 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital 'yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno - PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD at handang tumulong po sa inyo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing,” Go explained.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Go has also supported several initiatives to boost the development of the province, including the rehabilitation of roads in Dapitan City, Godod, Jose Dalman, Liloy, Kalawit Labason, La Libertad, Sergio Osmeña and Salug; construction of multipurpose buildings in Dapitan City, Jose Dalman, Leon Postigo, Mutia, President Manuel A. Roxas, Salug, Siocon, and Sindangan; and acquisition of ambulance units for Leon Postigo and Mutia, and trucks for Katipunan and Mutia.
Concluding his message, Go commended the local officials of the municipality for their untiring service to their constituents during these challenging times.
“Mga kababayan ko, kaunting tiis lang po. Alam kong nahihirapan po kayo, kami rin po ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ay nahihirapan din po. Subalit kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin para malampasan po natin itong krisis na ating kinakaharap,” he said.
“Kailangan natin magtulungan. Hindi po namin kayang mag-isa po ito, kailangan nating magbayanihan, kailangan po natin magmalasakit po sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Kapag nagtulungan tayo, malalampasan po natin itong krisis na ito,” Go ended. (OSBG)
