Bong Go provides support to underprivileged students
THOUSANDS of individuals from various sectoral groups in Ayungon and Tayasan, Negros Oriental, received assistance from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go as part of his commitment to help communities in distress recover from the challenges brought about by the global pandemic.
Go’s team organized the relief operation at the municipal gym in Ayungon and at the Brgy. Poblacion Gym in Tayasan where they grouped the 265 beneficiaries into smaller batches while strictly implementing the necessary safety and health protocols.
The residents then received meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins from Go. Some beneficiaries also got new pairs of shoes and bicycles that they can use to travel conveniently considering that public transportation remains limited.
As Go aims to provide underprivileged students access to quality education, he gave computer tablets to select beneficiaries to aid their children during classes under the blended learning set-up implemented in schools.
“Sa mga kabataan, para po ito sa inyo. Mag-aral po kayo nang mabuti, kayo po ang kinabukasan ng bayang ito. Pangalawa, sasaya po ang inyong mga magulang kapag nakapagtapos kayo ng pag-aaral,” Go explained.
“Importante po ang edukasyon dahil ito ang tanging puhunan natin sa mundong ito. Kaya hinihikayat ko ang mga bata na patuloy na mag-aral kahit na may krisis tayong hinaharap sa paraang ligtas at hindi mailalagay sa peligro ang buhay nila at ng mga pamilya nila,” Go added.
Several government agencies were also present during the distribution activity and extended additional forms of assistance.
Staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance while the Department of Trade and Industry conducted an on-site evaluation where qualified recipients will be given livelihood support through their Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa program.
Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority determined potential beneficiaries for their scholarship grants.
To safeguard their state of health, Go advised the beneficiaries, through his video message, to take advantage of the medical assistance programs offered in the Malasakit Center located at Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City if they may need medical attention.
“Mayroong Malasakit Center sa probinsya po ninyo. One hundred forty-one na po ang Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong sa inyong pampagamot,” assured Go.
Helping indigent patients for more than 20 years, Senator Go personally witnessed the struggles of Filipinos getting access to quality healthcare services. This led him to push for the passage of Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he authored and sponsored in the Senate.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office are put under one roof to assist low-income patients with their medical expenses.
“Kung mayroon ho kayong mga pasyente sa (Philippine) Heart Center, sa NKTI, sa Maynila, magsabi lang po kayo. Nandirito lang po kami ni Pangulong Duterte na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” Go offered.
Go also conveyed his concern over the alarming rates of COVID-19 cases caused by the more contagious Delta variant. He then reminded the residents to take extra precautions and adhere to health guidelines recommended by the government to help curb the spread of the virus.
Go urged the public to support the government’s target of attaining population protection and herd immunity by participating in the national vaccination program.
“Mga kababayan ko, unti-unti na pong dumarating ang mga bakuna. ‘Pag nasa priority list na ho kayo – ‘yung mga frontliners, senior citizens, mga persons with comorbidities, economic frontliners, mga indigents, magpabakuna na ho kayo sa inyong mga lugar, para po protektado kayo,” said Go.
“Napatunayan naman po kapag bakunado kayo ay maiiwasan po ‘yung pagkagrabe ‘pag sakaling mahawa po kayo ng COVID-19. Mas protektado po kayo ‘pag bakunado po kayo,” he added.
Meanwhile, Go continues to support infrastructure development especially in the provinces to boost economic growth and provide more livelihood opportunities to communities. In Ayungon, he supported the electrification program in the town while he also supported the construction of a multipurpose building and waterworks system in both towns.
Other projects he supported in the province are the acquisition of ambulance units for Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital and Macias Memorial Hospital in Dumaguate City, Mabinay Medical Community Hospital in Mabinay, Gov. William “Billy” Villegas Memorial Hospital in Guihulngan, and Bayawan District Hospital in Bayawan City; rehabilitation of roads in Amlan, Bais City, Bindoy, Mabinay, and Pamplona; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Pamplona, Dauin, Tayasan, Valencia, Vallehermoso; renovation of Valencia public market; and the installation of street lights in Dauin.
Go ended his message by expressing his gratitude towards Representative Joselyn “Josy” Limkaichong, Governor Roel Degamo, Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias, Ayungon Mayor Emarie Agustino and Vice Mayor Nelda Favillaran; Tayasan Mayor Susano Ruperto and Vice Mayor Sol Beton, and other local leaders for making certain that their community builds back better even in the height of crisis situations.
“Mga kababayan ko, parating mag-ingat, magdasal po tayo. At tandaan niyo po, minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na puwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa Pilipino ay gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” said Go.
“Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Dahil para sa amin po, ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos,” he ended.
