BONG GO PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO IMPOVERISHED RESIDENTS OF KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go provided aid to residents facing hardships in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, on Thursday, December 7. The relief activity, benefitting 30 individuals, took place at the Senior Citizens Office of Barangay Zone 4 in the city.

Additionally, his Malasakit Team offered assistance to the community in Tantangan town on the same day.

From Go’s team, the beneficiaries all received snacks, shirts, vitamins, masks, and balls for basketball and volleyball. There were also select recipients of a mobile phone, a watch, and a pair of shoes.

To further support the qualified recipients, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided livelihood assistance grants.

“Marami po talagang nawalan ng hanapbuhay nang dahil sa pandemya, pero mga kababayan ko, huwag po kayo mawalan ng pag-asa. Kami naman po sa gobyerno ay ginagawa ang lahat upang matulungan ang bawat apektadong lugar sa bansa,” said Go in his video message.

“Nais ko naman pong pasalamatan ang DSWD sa kanilang livelihood program. Nang dahil dito, nabigyan po ang maraming Pilipino ng paraan para kumita. Bibigyan ho kayo ng puhunan, pwede kayo magbukas ng maliit na tindihan, at dalhin niyo ang kita sa inyong pamilya,” he cited.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered to help those in need of medical care and encouraged them to get medical assistance from the Malasakit Center located at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City and Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City.

Signed into law in 2019, Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go, institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program to ensure that indigent patients have convenient access to medical assistance programs by the government.

There are now 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide, which have assisted over ten million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, Go also mentioned that he supports the construction of more Super Health Centers nationwide which shall offer basic health services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit.

Other available services in Super Health Centers are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation centers; and telemedicine.

Through the collaborative efforts of fellow lawmakers, local government units, and the DOH, sufficient funds were allocated for 307 Super Health Centers nationwide in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, is tasked with identifying strategic areas for construction.

“Sa pag-iikot ko sa bansa, napansin ko na kailangan talaga ng dagdag na health facilities lalo na sa maliliit at malalayong mga lugar. Minsan po, ‘yung iba ay nanganganak na lang sa tricycle sa layo ng byahe pa-ospital,” said Go.

“Huwag sana natin hayaan na mangyari pa ‘yon. Kaya talagang isinusulong ko ang pagkakaroon ng Super Health Centers para mailapit ang pangunahing serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan sa malalayong lugar,” he added.

Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, has likewise supported the construction of roads in Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Tantangan, and Surallah; the acquisition of a dump truck for the local government of Norala; construction of riverbank protection in Koronadal City and Tboli; installation of street lights in Koronadal City, Norala and Tupi; and the construction of a slaughterhouse in Tboli.