“ILAPIT ANG SERBISYO NG GOBYERNO SA TAO”— BONG GO EXTENDS SUPPORT TO THOUSANDS OF INDIGENTS IN VIRAC, CATANDUANES

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, along with his Malasakit Team, personally provided additional assistance to impoverished residents who were affected by Typhoons Carina and Kristine in Virac, Catanduanes, on Thursday, November 7.

“Malapit po sa aking puso ang mga taga Virac. Kanina po may lumalapit sa akin, nagpapasalamat. Sa totoo lang po, kami ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo po kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo,” he expressed.

“Ang Pilipino po’y kilala sa pagtutulungan po, huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Ang importante po ay tulungan natin ang mga nangangailangan, ang mga hopeless and helpless natin na mga kababayan,” he added.

Held at the Catanduanes Convention Center, Go and his Malasakit Team distributed essential items, including food packs, meal, shirts, masks, vitamins, fans, basketballs, and volleyballs to 1,500 beneficiaries. Some beneficiaries also received bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, and a watch. Meanwhile, Go, through the local government of Virac, gave each beneficiary 25 kilos of rice.

Go then thanked his fellow public servants for their unwavering support and dedication to bring government services closer to people, including Governor Joseph Cua, Vice Governor Peter Cua, Virac Mayor Sammy Laynes, Bato Mayor Johnny Rodulfo, San Miguel Mayor Jun Camano, San Andres Mayor Leo Mendoza, Baras Mayor Paolo Teves, Bato Vice Mayor Roy Regalado, and Board Members Joselito Alberto and John Alberto, among others.

Governor Cua then expressed his appreciation to Go for his unwavering support in the province of Catanduanes. “Maraming salamat po, Senator Bong Go. Marami po ang natamaan ng sakuna, at naisipan tayo ni Senator Bong Go na isa sa mga lugar na makakatanggap ng tulong.”

“Ilang beses na po siyang (Senator Go) naka punta sa lugar natin. Hinding-hindi po tayo nakakalimutan ni Senator Bong Go,” Governor Cua added.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Senator Go also personally visited the Malasakit Center located at Eastern Bicol Medical Center in Virac and urged the residents to take advantage of the medical assistance available for indigent patients offered by the Malasakit Center.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop designed to streamline medical assistance programs from various government agencies, ensuring that Filipinos can access medical assistance to overcome the financial burden of healthcare costs.

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. The Department of Health reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 15 million Filipinos.

Furthermore, as the Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go supported projects in Virac such as the rehabilitation of JCT National Road, the circumferential road connecting Virac, the rehabilitation of Virac Water Supply Pipelines, and the construction of Sewage Treatment Facilities.

“Maraming salamat po at tandaan po natin na isang beses lang po tayo dumaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano man po ang kabutihan na maaari nating gawin sa ating kapwa, gawin na po natin ngayon. Patuloy po akong magseserbisyo dahil naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo din sa Diyos,” concluded Go.

On the same day, Go’s team also led the inauguration of a Super Health Center in Panganiban, Catanduanes where the senator was declared an adopted son of the town.