SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go gave renewed hope to distressed sectors whose livelihoods have been burdened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. His team provided additional support to hundreds of young workers in Malabon City as part of his efforts to help mitigate the adverse impacts of the health crisis on the lives of Filipinos.

On Tuesday, June 1, the team of Senator Go led the distribution activity at the Oreta Sports Complex, where 200 beneficiaries received meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins.

In addition, selected recipients were given with new pairs of shoes and bicycles that they can use. Others also received computer tablets that will help their children easily access educational materials they need for their classes under the blended learning set up.

The activity strictly enforced COVID-19 safety and health protocols imposed by the government as beneficiaries were divided into small batches.

“Mga kababayan ko, mayroon lang po akong ipinadalang kaunting tulong. Mayro’n po akong ipinadalang vitamins, inumin niyo po ito pampalakas ng inyong resistensya. Kapag malakas ang inyong resistensya, mas lalaban po ang inyong katawan kontra COVID-19,” Go said in his video message.

“Bago po itong sakit na COVID-19, pinag-aaralan pa po ang lahat, pinag-aaralan pa po kung paano natin ito totally mawala po sa ating buhay itong COVID-19. Kailangan po ma-achieve muna natin ang herd immunity para hindi na kumalat ang sakit,” he added.

“Huwag kayo mawalan ng pag-asa. Hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo upang maiangat muli ang inyong kabuhayan at maproteksyunan ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Magbayanihan po tayo at magmalasakit sa ating kapwa,” he assured.

Through their respective programs for communities in distress, the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial support to each beneficiary, while qualified recipients were compensated for rendering community work through the livelihood program of the Department of Labor and Employment.

The Senator, then, appealed to the beneficiaries to support the government’s efforts to vaccinate a wider population and reassured them that the vulnerable sector will be part of the priority in the vaccine rollout.

“Pakiusap lang po, kailangan po ng disiplina, kailangan po ng kooperasyon ng bawat Pilipino, hindi po ito kayang gawin ng gobyerno lamang… kailangan natin ng kooperasyon at disiplina po ng bawat Pilipino,” Go expressed.

Go also highlighted that there are currently 117 Malasakit Centers nationwide, of which 23 centers are located in Metro Manila. He, then, reminded residents that they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the nearest Malasakit Center in Ospital ng Malabon for their health related expenses.

Authored and sponsored by Go in the Senate, the Malasakit Centers Act aims to provide a more convenient and accessible medical assistance by putting all concerned agencies, such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and PhilHealth, under one roof to help Filipinos, particularly the poor and indigent patients, cover their hospital bills.

Go has also extended his support for several projects in various areas of Metro Manila to help boost the economy and to protect lives and livelihoods of Filipinos. Among these are the construction of a stand-alone dialysis clinic in the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City, rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Road Network in Quezon City, acquisition of medical equipment for Amang Rodriguez Memorial and Medical Center in Marikina City, and many more.

He, then, expressed his gratitude towards Malabon City officials for their commitment and dedication in serving their community amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the officials were Representative Jaye Lacson-Noel, Mayor Antolin Oreta III, Vice Mayor Ninong dela Cruz, Councilor Enzo Oreta, and SK Federation President Jasper Kevin Cruz.

“Sa mga kabataan diyan, sa mga young workers po, ingat po kayo parati, kailangan lang namin ni Pangulong Duterte ang kooperasyon at disiplina po ng bawat Pilipino para po malampasan natin itong pandemya dulot ng COVID-19. Salamat po sa inyong lahat mga taga-Malabon,” Go ended.