SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go maintains his compassion for people experiencing poverty as he had his Malasakit Team deliver additional support to thousands of indigents in Malabon City from March 5 to 7.
Go, known as Mr. Malasakit, extended his gratitude towards the collective efforts of Malabon City’s local officials, led by Mayor Jeannie Sandoval and Vice Mayor Ninong Dela Cruz, citing how significant the relief operation was for many families in need and pledging to continue supporting the poor to the best of his capacity.
“Huwag kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Sa totoo lang kami ang dapat na magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo. Maraming salamat sa inyo. Ako naman ay sanay sa trabaho, tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he continued.
Go’s Malasakit Team delivered shirts, bags, and balls for basketball and volleyball to beneficiaries present. Meanwhile, around 7,000 beneficiaries received financial support from the national government.
In a brief speech, Mayor Sandoval extended her gratitude to the senator, saying, “Nagpapasalamat tayo kay Senator Bong Go sa kaniyang ipinagkakaloob sa atin. Alam naman po natin na marami tayong mga gastusin, marami tayong pinagdadaanan at napaka importante itong tulong.”
“Sana po ay mabigyang lunas ang ating mga problema ng mga tulong na ibinibigay sa atin ni Senator Bong Go. Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa kanya (dahil) hindi niya nakakalimutan ang mga Malabueños. Lagi po siyang nandito sa atin, lagi po siyang laman ng ating puso, ng ating diwa,” she added.
As part of his initiatives to help the city progress, Go, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported constructing a multipurpose building in Barangay Tañong and road improvements in Brgy. Panghulo in Malabon City.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also advocated for three Super Health Centers in the city. Through the collective efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the DOH for the construction of around 700 Super Health Centers, including one in Barangay Hulong Duhat, which Go attended the groundbreaking last November.
Moreover, Go urged individuals requiring medical help to utilize the medical assistance programs from the Malasakit Centers located within the Ospital ng Malabon and San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital in the city.
The Malasakit Centers program, a brainchild initiative of Senator Go to help underprivileged patients, has helped more than ten million Filipinos and established 160 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
Principally sponsored and authored by Go, Republic Act No. 11463 aims to make medical assistance programs more accessible by bringing together all concerned agencies under one roof, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.