Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, in coordination with several government agencies, provided assistance to thousands of vulnerable residents in Calatrava, San Carlos City and Toboso in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, November 23, as part of his commitment to boost the economic recovery of those adversely affected by the national health crisis.
“Mga kababayan ko, nasa krisis po tayo dulot ng COVID-19. Marami po ang nawalan ng trabaho, marami po ang nagsara ng negosyo dahil po sa pagsara ng ekonomiya dahil tumataas po ang kaso. Kaya naman nakikiusap po kami sa inyong kooperasyon upang malagpasan natin ang krisis na kinakaharap,” Go appealed in his video message.
Go’s team organized the distribution activities in the province and assisted a total of 5,000 individuals. The team divided the beneficiaries into smaller batches, in compliance with pertinent health and safety protocols.
Go’s team distributed snacks and masks. They also gave away new pairs of shoes, bicycles and computer tablets.
Go also thanked the government agencies for supporting those in need by extending the necessary assistance to help various sectoral groups cope with the challenges brought by the pandemic.
Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided the residents with financial assistance. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, on the other hand, determined potential beneficiaries for their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.
Continuing his message, Go also reached out to those with health concerns and offered them further aid. He advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.
The center is a one-stop shop that brings together agencies which offer medical assistance such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Its primary aim is to reduce a patient’s hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various patient services and expenses.
“Mayro’n na ho tayong 149 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. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing,” said Go.
“Ang Malasakit Center po ay batas na isinulong ko noon, pinirmahan ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients, lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center. Handa pong tumulong ‘yan sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” he added.
The senator, who also serves as the Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, urged the residents to get inoculated under the government’s vaccination program. Go reassured that the government strives to acquire more vaccines to ensure that more Filipinos get protected against COVID-19.
Go then recognized local government leaders for supporting their constituents during these difficult times.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the senator supported several initiatives to boost economic development and improve public service delivery in the province. These include the construction of a revetment, multi-purpose public facilities, and several road maintenance initiatives in Bacolod City; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Calatrava; and construction of a multi-purpose building and concreting of a local road in the town of Salvador Benedicto.
Other initiatives Go pushed for include the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Himamaylan City; maintenance of roads in Bago City; and construction of a new infectious diseases wing at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
To ensure that the province can withstand the ongoing pandemic and build its resilience against future health crises, Go also successfully pushed for the passage of a bill in the Senate that will establish the Bacolod City General Hospital. The bill was signed into law by President Duterte on June 24.
“Importante sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte ang buhay po at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Buhay po natin, pangalagaan po natin. Kalusugan po natin, pangalagaan po natin,” he ended. (Office of Sen. Bong Go) -rir
