SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go urged the government to continue expediting the country’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to achieve population protection this year leading to herd immunity in communities.

As the reimposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine begins in NCR, he also reminded authorities, both in the national and local level, to properly manage vaccination sites by conducting operations in an organized and safe manner in compliance with necessary health protocols to safeguard those to be vaccinated.

“Hinihimok ko po ang gobyerno na patuloy nating pabilisin ang pagbabakuna sa ating mga kababayan upang agaran din nating makamit ang inaasam nating herd immunity sa paraang maayos at ligtas,” said Go.

“Ang pagbabakuna po ang susi upang matalo natin ang COVID-19 at makabalik sa normal ang ating pamumuhay. Pero gawin dapat ito sa maayos at organisadong paraan. Gusto nating maproteksyunan ang taumbayan gamit ang bakuna. Pero higit sa lahat, ayaw nating magkahawahan pa,” he added.

Go, meanwhile, commended the national vaccination program’s high rate when it comes to the rollout of the vaccines. As of 05 August 2021, a total of 23,199,187 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered either as first or second dose.

Out of these, 12,493,997 individuals were vaccinated with their 1st dose while 10,705,190 individuals have been fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The country has achieved a milestone on August 5 when it administered a total of 710,482 vaccine jabs in one day alone, highest ever since the rollout began.

“Masaya po tayo dahil nakikita naman po natin ang pagtutulungan ng lahat para mapabilis ang ating pagbabakuna,” said Go.

“Kinokomendahan po natin ang gobyerno sa lahat ng mga pagsisikap nito. Pero nagpapasalamat din tayo sa mga Pilipinong nakikiisa sa ating laban kontra COVID-19 sa pamamagitan ng pagpapabakuna,” he added.

He also continued to urge Filipinos, particularly those who are already qualified to get vaccinated, to get their COVID-19 jabs and protect themselves and their families against the virus.

“Pakiusap po namin ni Pangulong Duterte sa inyo, lalung-lalo na po ‘pag pasok na kayo sa priority list, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Ito po ang ating proteksyon,” said Go

“Kung mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga anak, mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga pamilya, pakiusap ko lang po sa inyo, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Libre naman po ito. Inuuna namin palagi ang kapakanan ninyo,” he added.

With more vaccines arriving in the country, Go appealed to the public not to waste the opportunity to get vaccinated. He stressed that “the faster we inoculate priority groups, the faster we can reach other sectors as well.”

The latest vaccine arrival total as of Aug 5 is at 38,275,800 doses already and the country expects to receive around 130 million more doses in the coming months.

Previously, Go also appealed for the strengthening of contact tracing and genome sequencing efforts, the augmentation of healthcare facilities and hastening of the country’s vaccine rollout.

“Huwag nating sayangin ang magandang takbo ng vaccine rollout ngayon. Gaya ng sabi ng Pangulo, posibleng maging mas maluwag ang restrictions o mas malaya ka kapag protektado ka ng bakuna,” he said.

Go also earlier urged the executive department to ensure that assistance will be given to the poorest of the poor that will be most affected when ECQ is reimposed.

“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Pangulong Duterte sa pagtugon sa ating apela na magbigay ng ayuda sa mga pinakamahihirap na maaapektuhan ng ECQ sa NCR simula Agosto 6 hanggang 20,” Go said in an earlier statement.

“Sila naman ang apektado dito, ang mga ‘isang kahig, isang tuka’, talagang walang matakbuhan. Ito ang mga umaasa pong lumabas at magtrabaho araw-araw, sila po ang pinakaapektado dito,” he added.

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Bong Go gives relief to thousands of struggling families in Caloocan City

FOLLOWING government’s decision to reimpose enhanced community quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila from August 6 to 20, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go vowed to continue advocating for low-income families so that they can get the help they need to overcome the financial strains worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

His team mounted a second relief effort for the low-income families in Caloocan City at the Gregoria de Jesus Elementary School and A. Bonifacio Elementary School on August 3 and 4, respectively. The same activities were held for 2,040 other families at the Grace Park Elementary School on July 27 and 29.

The team distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 2,184 beneficiaries over the two-day period. The activities were held in batches to ensure all health and safety protocols against COVID-19 were strictly observed.

Selected recipients received new pairs of shoes while some were provided with bicycles so they can have better access to basic needs and services amid the pandemic. Others were also given computer tablets for their children’s educational needs.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development were also present and handed out financial assistance in a separate distribution.

“Nagtatrabaho ako sa isang kumpanya dati pero nawalan ako ng trabaho nung nagka-pandemya. Naubos ‘yung ipon namin nung nanganak ang asawa ko. Kaya kinapalan ko nalang ang mukha ko at lahat na pinasok at binenta ko para may tustos kami sa pang-araw-araw,” said Ricardo Yumang.

“Masayang-masaya ako dahil nagkaroon ako ng bisikleta. Araw-araw akong nagbibiyahe at pumipila sa bus pero ngayon, sa tulong ni Kuya Bong Go, may sarili na akong transportasyon. Maraming, maraming salamat kay Senator Go at Presidente Rodrigo Duterte para sa tulong nila,” he continued.

To make sure their health concerns are addressed, the Senator offered medical assistance to any poor or indigent patient. He strongly advised them to avail of the services of any of the 26 Malasakit Centers in Metro Manila, including the one in Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in the said city, where they may conveniently get medical assistance offered by the government.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which primarily aims to help patients cover their medical bills.

“Nasa loob ng ospital ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong sa inyo para maging ‘zero balance’ ang inyong billing. Tuloy-tuloy na itong programang dahil para sa amin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, hindi dapat pinahihirapan ang mga pasyente. Dapat tinulungan natin sila para hindi na sila pumipila sa iba’t ibang ahensya para makahingi ng tulong sa gobyerno,” explained Go.

He went on to urge everyone to abide by and strictly follow the ECQ protocols once in place. In the meantime, Go encouraged those eligible to get vaccinated, and called the attention of the local government to deploy the doses immediately to ensure that no one is left behind in the path to recovery.

“Mga kababayan, kaunting tiis lang. Alam kong nahihirapan kayo. Kailangan natin mag-ingat at hindi natin ma-afford na mapuno ang mga hospital muli at baka bumagsak ang ating health care system,” appealed Go.

“Binabalanse ng gobyerno ang lahat, ang ekonomiya, inyong kabuhayan at kalusugan. So, pakiusap namin ni Pangulong Duterte, maging disiplinado at ‘wag maging kumpiyansa. Magtulungan tayong lahat para malampasan natin ang krisis na ito,” he continued.

Ending his remarks, the Senator thanked various government officials for their hard work and asked them to continue to support their most vulnerable constituents. Among those he especially thanked were Council for the Welfare of Children Undersecretary Mitch Cajayon-Uy, 1st District Representative Dale Malapitan, Mayor Oscar Malapitan and the barangay chairs of Caloocan City.

To support development of Caloocan City, Go earlier supported the funding for the construction of a multi-purpose building in Barangays 171 and 175 as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.