The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go participated in a joint aid mission with various national agencies in Misamis Occidental on Nov. 26 and 27 as part of a cross-government effort to provide low-income households needed assistance.
In a video message at the activities, Go urged the residents of Tangub City to keep cooperating with the vaccination and other COVID-19 mitigation efforts of the government to help the country get back on track at the soonest possible time.
“Pakiusap, kailangan namin ang kooperasyon at disiplina ninyo. Kung gusto niyo makamtam natin ang population protection ngayong taon, para naman sumaya ang Pasko natin, magpabakuna na kayo. Huwag kayong matakot dahil kahit kami ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ay bakunado na din po,” Go stated.
“Kung mahal niyo ang inyong pamilya, ‘wag niyong sayangin ang pagkakataon kung nasa priority list kayo at sumunod kayo sa mga awtoridad. Tingnan niyo sa ibang bansa. Umakyat ang bilang ng mga kaso nila dahil sa mga bagong variants. Ayaw nating bumagsak ang healthcare system kaya pakiusap ‘wag tayo maging kampante,” he continued.
The senator’s personnel provided snacks and masks to a total of 2,504 households at the Mindanao State College of Science and Technology gymnasium and Sinanduloy Cultural Center. To help address the beneficiaries’ pandemic-related challenges, they also gave away some computer tablets, bicycles, and new pairs of shoes.
In addition, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial assistance to help alleviate the beneficiaries’ financial struggles. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments for their respective assistance programs.
In light of the current global health emergency, the senator reminded the sick and elderly who are most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to be extra diligent about prevention. He informed them of the Malasakit Center at the Doña Maria D. Tan Memorial Hospital (DMDTMH) or Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in Ozamiz City where they may conveniently avail aid from the government for their health expenses.
The program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go authored and sponsored in the Senate.
“Sa mga kailangan magpa-opera o magpatingin sa espesyalista, lapitan niyo lang ako at handa kami ni Pangulong Duterte na tumulong. Huwag kayo mamroblema sa inyong babayaran dahil kami na ang bahala sa inyung pagpapaospital pati sa pamasahe ninyo,” he reassured.
To end, the senator recognized Governor Philip Tan, Mayor Jennifer Tan, and other government officials who worked together to provide this assistance to the affected households. He pledged his continuing support and promised to push for initiatives that will accelerate the recovery and bolster the resilience of the local economy of Misamis Occidental.
As Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go had supported the construction of a multi-purpose building in Barangay Lorenzo Tan and at the Governor Alfonso D. Tan College; infrastructure development of the DMDTMH; and provision of financial assistance for education and social protection in Tangub City.
Other initiatives include the rehabilitation of roads in Aloran, Bonifacio, Calamba, Don Victoriano, Jimenez, Sapang Dalaga, Tudela, Sinacban, and Ozamiz City; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Concepcion, Jimenez, Plaridel, Tudela, Oroquieta City, and Ozamiz City; construction of an eco-tourism highway; and the installation of solar streetlights along provincial roads.
The same activity was held for 400 small business owners at the Sinanduloy Cultural Center last October 12. All distributions were conducted in small batches to ensure strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (PR) – bny
