Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s outreach team provided relief to indigents who are in need of various assistance on Friday, May 12, as part of the senator’s efforts to reach out to underserved communities.
During the relief operation at the municipal covered court, Go’s team gave away masks, snacks, and shirts to 129 residents, as well as mobile phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball to select beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to help the residents with their burial and medical needs.
“Mahirap po ang panahon ngayon pero asahan niyo na tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya. Sa pamumuno ni Pangulong (Ferdinand) Marcos Jr., tiwala ako na sama-sama tayong makakaahon sa mga krisis na ito,” said Go in a video message.
Go, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also encouraged the residents in need of medical attention to visit Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista where there is a Malasakit Center available.
Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least 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.
According to DOH, the Malasakit Centers program has already benefitted over seven million Filipinos, with 157 Malasakit Centers established all over the country.
“Lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center, para po iyan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Batas na ‘yan, isinulong ko, pinirmahan ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Nasa loob na po ng ospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD. Para po ‘yan sa lahat ng Pilipino,” he explained.
He then expressed his gratitude to the local officials who have dedicated themselves to serving their constituents.
“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 the senator.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported several initiatives in the province, such as the purchase of multicabs in Laua-an, improvement of a public park in Belison, expansion of the water system in Libertad, construction of a bridge in Patnongon, purchase of an ambulance and construction of a flood control structure in San Jose, and construction of a covered court in San Remigio, among others.
Last April 25, Go personally attended the inauguration and groundbreaking of the Super Health Centers in San Jose de Buenavista and Sibalom. He also inspected the operations of the Malasakit Center at Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista.
Simultaneously, Go’s team also distributed aid to indigent residents in the town of San Remigio.
