SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, adopted son of CALABARZON and a Batangueño himself, personally spearheaded a relief operation to more than a thousand struggling residents in Sta. Teresita, Batangas, on Friday, June 2, demonstrating his commitment to assisting communities in need.
Go and his team mounted the relief activity at the municipal covered court. They provided grocery packs, masks, vitamins, snacks, and shirts to 1,086 Batangueños. The senator likewise gave away bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to the residents.
The senator was accompanied by Sta. Teresita Mayor Norberto “Boy” A. Segunial, Jr. and Vice Mayor Ma. Aurea “Marie” V. Segunial, among others.
“Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Sa totoo lang po, parati kong naririnig si Mayor (Segunial), Vice Mayor (Segunial), ‘Salamat Senador Bong Go sa mga tulong.’ Sa totoo lang po, huwag kayong magpasalamat sa amin, huwag kayong magpasalamat sa akin dahil trabaho ko po ‘yan. Ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo po ako ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo,” Go expressed in his speech.
“Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. Hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung oras na ibinigay ninyo sa akin. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino. Sanay po ako sa trabaho. Kung trabaho lang po ang pag-uusapan, sanay po ako diyan. Umaga, tanghali, hapunan, kahit sa panaginip nagtatrabaho ako. Ayaw kong may masayang na oras,” he added.
Continuing his remarks, Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, took the opportunity to remind the public about the importance of prioritizing their health. He then highlighted the availability of Malasakit Centers at Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery and Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City.
The Malasakit Centers program, initiated by Senator Go, provides for convenient access to medical and financial assistance to particularly poor and indigent patients. These centers bring together various government agencies, such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to streamline the assistance process.
“Mayroon na po tayong 157 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa ating mga kababayan. Ang Malasakit Center po is a one-stop shop, nasa loob na po ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD. Isinulong ko po ‘yan noon, pinirmahan ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients, para po ‘yan sa Pilipino,” underscored Go, who primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
“At kung hindi kayang operahan dito sa Batangas, kung kailangang dalahin ni Mayor sa Maynila ang pasyente ninyo, sa Heart Center, ako na ang sasalo doon pati pamasahe hanggang makabalik kayo rito sa Batangas. Tutulungan ko po ang inyong pasyente,” he offered.
Meanwhile, as part of his commitment to help in the development of Sta. Teresita, Go, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the concretion of local roads and rehabilitation of a multipurpose building.
Earlier that day, Go was in Ibaan where he personally inspected the town’s Super Health Center and a multipurpose building, which he helped in the funding of. He likewise extended assistance to more disadvantaged Batangueños.
“Tesoro po ang aking nanay at tatay. Mga laking Tanauan (City) po ‘yan. ‘Yung lolo’t lola ko po Santo Tomas. Hanapin n’yo Barong Tesoro, at kilala po ang mga Tesoro diyan po sa Tanauan (City). Kaya ‘yung dugo ko po Batangueño at Bisaya. Kapag pinaghalo ang Bisaya at Batangueño, ang resulta niyan ay tapang at malasakit sa kapwa tao. ‘Yun po ang totoo,” Go shared.
“So, asahan n’yo, nandirito po ako para tumulong po sa ating mga kababayan sa abot po ng aking makakaya. Alam n’yo sa kahit anong panahon, mahal ko kayong lahat dahil ako’y isang probinsyanong tao lamang po na isang Batangueño rin po na nagmamahal sa inyo. Magseserbisyo po ako sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Mga kababayan ko, mahal na mahal na mahal ko po kayong lahat. Maraming salamat po,” he concluded.
