Solon aids indigents in Calumpit, Bulacan

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reiterated his call to the national government to fast-track and strengthen the vaccination efforts in more vulnerable communities nationwide as he continues to give aid to more sectors amid the national health crisis.

He also lauded plans of the government to vaccinate five million people during a three-day vaccination drive this month.

From November 4 to 5, Senator Go’s outreach team carried out distribution efforts to a total of 1,500 indigent families in Calumpit, Bulacan. In his video message, Go reminded the public to strictly comply with health protocols as the government remains committed to balancing the economic and health concerns of the country.

“Mga kababayan ko, delikado po ang COVID-19. If the virus finds you, it will infect you. Napakahirap po nitong COVID-19. Please lang po, dapat po’y protektado kayo. Kung mahal ninyo po ang inyong mga pamilya at inyong mga anak, magpabakuna na po kayo,” Go reminded.

“Pakiusap namin ni Pangulong Duterte, maging disiplinado at ‘wag maging kumpiyansa. Magtulungan tayong lahat para malampasan natin ang krisis na ito,” he continued.

Go’s team grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches per day and implemented necessary safety protocols to safeguard the public from the threat of the virus.

The senator’s staff handed out meals, masks and vitamins to residents. They also gave some residents new pairs of shoes and bicycles that they can use for necessary travel. In addition, select residents received computer tablets for children’s studies under the blended learning set-up.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development granted residents financial assistance through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Senator Go offered further assistance to residents with health concerns and urged them to visit any of the two Malasakit Centers in the province at Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City and at Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Santa Maria.

Primarily pushed by Go, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where agencies such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, are put in one office to help poor and indigent Filipinos with their medical expenses.

“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,” said Go.

Continuing his message, Go recognized the local officials of Calumpit for their work in providing the necessary support to their struggling constituents.

“Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan po tayo, magbayanihan at magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino, malalampasan po natin ito bilang nagkakaisang mamayang Pilipino,” Go ended.

Go, who is also the Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, committed to support several projects in the province as part of his push to boost its economic recovery.

Among these projects are the construction of a multi-purpose building in Plaridel; the rehabilitation of the Bulacan State University Activity Center and construction of a multi-purpose building in in Malolos City; and the construction of slope concrete river walls in Barangays Meysulao, Meyto, Bulusan, Santa Lucia, San Jose, San Miguel, and Sapang Bayan in Calumpit.

He also supported construction of drainages; provision of medical equipment for local hospitals; improvement of the Pandi District Hospital; and concreting of a farm-to-market road in San Ildefonso.

On October 25, Go’s team also provided similar assistance to hundreds of micro-entrepreneurs from the town of Angat.