AFTER visiting the town of Calatagan where he witnessed the inauguration of the Super Health Center and personally provided aid to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng victims, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go proceeded to Balayan, Batangas to lead yet another series of relief operations for its indigent residents.

In his speech, Go reaffirmed his commitment to push for more opportunities for disadvantaged Filipinos, especially amid the pandemic.

He than praised his fellow Batangueños for remaining optimistic during these challenging times, saying, “Ako po’y may dugong Batangueño. Tesoro po ako, Christopher Lawrence Tesoro Go. Pero ‘yung dugo ko po ay nananatiling Batangueño. Kaya sabi nga ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, ‘pag pinagsama mo ang Batangueño at Bisaya, ‘yan po ‘yung dugong matapang at mayroong malasakit sa kapwa. Iyan po ang tapang at malasakit, mga Batangueño.”

“Gusto kong pasalamatan kayong lahat sa ibinigay n’yo pong tulong at suporta… Huwag ho kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Sa totoo lang po, ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo po ako ng pagkakataon na magserbisyo po sa inyo. Hinding-hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataong ‘yan. Magseserbisyo po ako sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he reassured.

Go and his team provided grocery packs, meals, vitamins, masks, sunglasses, and shirts to 1,362 indigents at Balayan Government Center and Old Municipal Hall. He also provided cellular phones, umbrellas, watches, and shoes to select individuals.

Meanwhile, as a staunch advocate of sports development and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, Go provided bicycles, balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.

“Gusto ko pong engganyuhin ang mga kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Isang paraan po ‘yon na ipagpatuloy po natin ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga at kriminalidad. Ayaw ko pong sayangin ang naumpisahan ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Kaya tulungan n’yo po kami. Engganyuhin po natin ang mga kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs po,” Go encouraged.

As part of the government’s wider efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of the pandemic, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development then provided financial assistance to 851 beneficiaries while the Department of Labor and Employment provided livelihood support to 511 other qualified individuals.

Go also offered additional assistance to the beneficiaries and their families in need of hospital care as he encouraged them to visit Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery and Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City where there are Malasakit Centers available.

Initiated by Go after he witnessed the struggles of financially incapacitated Filipinos, the Malasakit Centers program provides one-stop shops where poor and indigent patients can conveniently avail of medical assistance from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The 152 established Malasakit Centers have so far benefitted millions of Filipinos nationwide.

“Mayroon na ho tayong 152 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Ano ho ba ang Malasakit Center? One-stop shop po ‘yan. Nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance ang inyong billing. Batas na po ‘yan na isinulong ko noon, pinirmahan ni (dating) pangulong Duterte. Iyan po ang Malasakit Center,” explained Go.

In line with his commitment to make health services more accessible, Go also supported the construction of Super Health Centers in Agoncillo, Lipa City, San Pablo City, San Pascual, Taysan, Ibaan, and Calatagan.

With the aim to reduce hospital occupancy rates and bring public healthcare closer to those in need, Super Health Centers will offer health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, 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.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he also supported the construction of multiple multipurpose buildings and rehabilitation of several roads in the town.

“Gusto namin kayong patawanin pa sana, makabigay ng tulong, makabigay ng kaunting solusyon sa inyong problema, at makaiwan ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng pagdadalamhati dahil nasa gitna pa tayo ng pandemya,” Go expressed.

“Ako po, inyong kapwa Batangueño ay patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyo. Dahil ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos,” he ended.