“Huwag maging kumpiyansa, may banta pa rin ng COVID-19,” was Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s video message reminder on Tuesday, July 11, during his team’s relief distribution activity in Balayan, Batangas.
“Mga kababayan ko, ilang taon na po tayong nasa pandemya. Kaya nakikiusap po ako sa inyo na huwag po maging kumpiyansa. Kahit na lumuluwag na ang ating health restrictions, andiyan pa rin po ang banta ng COVID-19.
Magpabakuna at magpabooster shots na po kayo dahil ang bakuna po ang tanging susi sa ngayon para makabalik tayo sa normal na pamumuhay,” he said.
Go’s team, in coordination with Board Member Junjun Rosales, distributed snacks, masks, vitamins and shirts to a total of 100 struggling residents at the municipal covered court. The senator also gave away shoes and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients.
Meanwhile, financial support was also extended by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the qualified beneficiaries.
Go, who is an adopted son of CALABARZON with familial roots in Batangas and Davao, remains steadfast in his advocacy for improved healthcare services.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also offered to help those with medical concerns.
The senator encouraged the public to visit Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery and Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City where there are Malasakit Centers ready to assist with their medical-related expenses.
The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate. The Act aims to provide convenient assistance to indigent patients and help them with their hospital bills and other health-related expenses. To date, there are 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
The senator also maintained that the Department of Health (DOH) has allocated necessary funds for the establishment of Super Health Centers in the province. Under the 2022 national budget, Super Health Centers in Batangas were funded in San Pascual, Agoncillo, Calatagan, Lipa City, Malvar, and Taysan, aside from the one in Ibaan. In 2023, more centers were identified to be established in the towns of San Juan, Tingloy, Lian and San Jose.
In addition, two more Super Health Centers were funded in Lipa City.
The Super Health Center is an improved version of a rural health center, and offers basic health services such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, through which remote diagnosis and treatment of patients is made possible.
To help boost the economic progress in the province, Go, as vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Alitagtag, Batangas City, Ibaan, Lemery, Lipa City, Mabini, San Jose, San Juan, San Luis, San Nicolas, Santo Tomas and Taal; concretion of farm-to-market roads in Agoncillo, Laurel, Nasugbu and Tuy; acquisition of ambulance units in Ibaan and Lemery; and the acquisition of multipurpose vehicles in Lipa City and San Juan.
“Mga kababayan ko, mag-ingat po tayo. Magdasal po tayo, magtulungan po tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Magtiwala lang po kayo sa gobyerno at makakaahon din po tayo bilang nagkakaisang mamamayang Pilipino,” encouraged Go.
Last July 3, Go visited Tanauan City, where he personally assisted more than a thousand indigents.