SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go once again urged Filipinos to make health their utmost priority, especially amid the ongoing pandemic. In a video message during a relief activity in Sta. Maria, Bulacan on Wednesday, May 11, Go noted that there are Malasakit Centers in the province ready to assist them with their medical needs.

He offered assistance to those who require immediate hospital care and encouraged them to visit any of the two Malasakit Centers located at Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria and at Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City.

After witnessing first-hand the struggles of underprivileged Filipinos to get medical-related assistance from the government, Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program which streamlines the process of acquiring aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

To date, there are 151 operational Malasakit Centers that have assisted more than three million poor and indigent Filipinos nationwide.

“Kung may nararamdaman kayo, ‘wag niyo nang patagalin pa. Kadalasan, ayaw ng mga Pilipino magpa-check-up dahil baka malaki ang gastusin sa ospital. Alam ko kung gaano ka hirap maging mahirap pero hindi niyo na kailangang magmakaawa para makahingi ng tulong sa ating gobyerno,” reassured Go.

“Ang Malasakit Center po ay batas na, isinulong ko noon, pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center. Handa pong tumulong ‘yan sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” he added.

Go’s team conducted the distribution at the Sta. Maria Central Elementary School gymnasium where they grouped the 1,558 beneficiaries into smaller batches before handing out meals and masks.

The team also provided phablets, bicycles and shoes to select individuals. Meanwhile, representatives from DSWD extended financial assistance in a separate distribution.

Continuing his message, Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, appealed to the Bulakeños to help the country attain herd immunity by getting vaccinated once they are eligible. He added that the government continuously exerts great efforts to obtain sufficient supplies of vaccines for everyone’s protection.

“Mga kababayan ko, ito pong mga bakuna na ito ay libre at galing po ito sa gobyerno. Ito rin po ang tanging susi sa ngayon upang makamtan natin ang normal na pamumuhay kaya magpabakuna na po kayo,” Go urged.

In line with his commitment to help improve public service delivery in Sta. Maria, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of a road and construction of a slope protection and drainage system.

He also supported the construction of a multipurpose building in Barangay Niugan, construction of bridges in Brgys. Anilao and Dakila, road and drainage improvement in Brgy. San Vicente, and the rehabilitation of Bulacan State University Activity Center.

In the end, Go thanked the local officials for their hard work and determination to ensure that their respective communities quickly recover from the challenges brought by the pandemic.

On May 6, Go’s team visited Malolos City and San Ildefonso and provided similar relief to 1,200 disadvantaged residents there.