Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues his unwavering dedication to assisting struggling Filipinos as he personally reached out and provided aid to residents of Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City on Thursday, June 8.
In his speech, Go reminisced about his experience in Quezon City, stating that he grew up in the area from 1984 to 1995. He shared his anecdotes, such as riding the jeepney from PHILCOA to SM North Edsa, and watching movies in nearby cinemas, among others.
“Ako po ay laking Quezon City. Alam n’yo ba, noong 1984, dito na po ako lumaki sa Quezon City hanggang 1995.
Mahigit sampung taon po ako, diyan po ako nakatira sa Teachers’ Village sa Malingap Street. So, kabisado ko po itong inyong distrito,” he shared.
He also expressed his gratitude to the people, emphasizing that they should not thank him, but rather, he should be the one thankful for the opportunity to serve them.
“Nakaanim na po ako na speaking engagements kahapon. Tao lamang po ako, napapagod din. Pero kapag nakikita ko kayong masaya, tumatawa, makatulong sa inyo, makaiwan ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng pagdadalamhati, makatulong sa mga pasyente, nawawala po ang aking pagod,” he said.
“Kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas po sa akin, sa aking pagseserbisyo po sa aking kapwa Pilipino,” added Go.
Held at the Pasong Tamo Elementary School, Go and his team provided food packs, snacks, masks, vitamins, and shirts to a total of 1,160 beneficiaries. Go and his team also gave away cellular phones, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients.
Out of the total number of beneficiaries, 1,000 were guardians of Grade 6 students who received educational assistance, while the remaining 160 residents received burial or medical assistance, provided through existing programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
In his speech, the senator also emphasized the importance of education as he addressed the youth in the audience.
He urged them to study diligently and stay focused on their academic pursuits.
“Kayo ang kinabukasan ng bayang ito,” Go told the students, emphasizing that education is an investment. He also reminded them that their parents work hard to provide for their education, and completing their studies would bring joy to their families.
Meanwhile, the senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also highlighted the presence of Malasakit Centers in the city, which are aimed at promoting greater access to medical assistance to Filipinos, especially the poor and indigents.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together the representatives from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to assist particularly poor and indigent patients in reducing their hospital bills to the lowest possible amount.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. There are now 158 operational centers that have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH.
Malasakit Centers in Quezon City are located at Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine National Police General Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC).
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go likewise supported the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center and VMMC road networks, road and drainage improvement works along the Quirino Highway and P. Dela Cruz Road, construction of an advanced cardiac catheterization laboratory and expansion of the new emergency room building at the EAMC, and construction of a five-story multipurpose building at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.
Meanwhile, Go shared that there will also be six Super Health Centers in various barangays in the city which Go advocated for.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.
Services offered in Super Health Centers will include 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, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.