SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go’s office, together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, provided assistance to poor families in Barangay 107, District 1, Manila City on Wednesday, July 5.

The relief operation, which was held at the barangay hall of Brgy. 107, assisted a total of 100 indigents. Go’s team distributed vitamins, masks, shirts, and snacks. Select beneficiaries also received shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball.

The DSWD also extended financial assistance to the residents.

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered to help those in need of medical assistance. The senator highlighted the presence of five Malasakit Centers in the city, where they can avail of the government’s medical assistance programs.

Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, was principally authored and sponsored by Go. It requires all hospitals administered and managed by the Department of Health nationwide, and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City, to establish their own Malasakit Centers.

Other public hospitals may also establish their own centers provided they meet a standard set of criteria and they can guarantee the sustainability of their operations. The program has so far assisted over seven million Filipinos since its inception in 2018, according to DOH.

The Malasakit Centers are located at Tondo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, and in San Lazaro Hospital.

In line with his efforts to bolster the health sector, Go mentioned that DOH has identified several barangays in the city where it will establish Super Health Centers.

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.

Super Health Centers offer database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, 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.

Go, who is also Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has supported several projects in the city including road improvements, construction of a multipurpose building, and improvements of public buildings.

He also supported the acquisition of a multipurpose vehicle, rescue patrol, and an ambulance.

“Hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung pagkakataon na magserbisyo sa inyo. Magtatrabaho po ako sa Pilipino. Sanay po ako sa trabaho… iyon po ang pwede kong ialay sa inyo, ang aking kasipagan po sa pagtatrabaho. Kaya magtulungan lang po tayo para sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa,” Go reassured.