SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go remained committed to support struggling communities amid the national health crisis as his team conducted another series of relief efforts in Jaro, Santa Fe, Pastrana, and Tacloban City in Leyte.

Go’s staff organized four separate distribution activities at Jaro Cultural Center, Santa Fe Municipal Gymnasium, Pastrana Covered Court, and Brgy. 54-A Hall in Tacloban City where they catered to a total of 1,741 beneficiaries, mostly composed of persons with disabilities, solo parents, transport workers, out-of-school youth, and displaced workers.

In his video message, Go appealed to the public to remain vigilant and compliant with necessary health precautions as there are growing numbers of COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant.

He then encouraged them to set aside their hesitancy and get inoculated immediately as soon as vaccines are rolled out in their area in order to attain population protection and herd immunity soon.

“Marami ang nahihirapan, maraming nagsara na negosyo, maraming nawalan ng trabaho. Kaya ang kinakailangan, kooperasyon at disiplina ng ating mga kababayan. Pakiusap lang, magtulungan lang tayo at mahalin natin ang ating kapwa,” Go expressed.

“Sa ngayon naman po, binabalanse po ng ating gobyerno ang buhay, kalusugan, at ekonomiya. Importante po sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte ang buhay ng bawat tao,” he added.

Go’s team grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches and proceeded to hand out meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins to each beneficiary. In addition, some residents received new pairs of shoes, computer tablets, and bicycles that they can use to conveniently travel to work or get their daily needs.

As part of the government’s commitment to help underprivileged communities cope with challenges caused by the pandemic, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave the beneficiaries financial assistance.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted on-site evaluations wherein potential beneficiaries will be given livelihood and scholarship opportunities.

Lastly, the Department of Labor and Employment gave livelihood support to 241 beneficiaries from Jaro and Tacloban City through their Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mahal na Presidente at kay Senator Bong Go sa tulong na natanggap namin at sana po ay marami pa pong tulong na dumating sa amin, lalo na sa mga katulad ko na totally blind,” Simplecio Antonio, 61, shared in an interview.

In line with his pledge to give Filipinos affordable quality health care services, Go mentioned in his message that there are five Malasakit Centers in the province that residents may visit if they need immediate medical care.

The center is a one-stop shop that provides convenient access to the medical assistance programs of concerned agencies, namely the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office.

The centers are located at New Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City; Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City; Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City; Leyte Provincial Hospital and Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center, both in Palo.

“Mga kababayan ko, mayro’n na ho tayong 141 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance po at wala na kayong babayaran sa inyong pagpapaospital. Lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center, para po ‘yan sa Pilipino,” said Go.

The Senator then commended the local leaders of each community for exerting great efforts and making sure that their constituents get the necessary support they need to help them recover from the struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kailangan pong magtulungan tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, at magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino,” said Go.

“Salamat po sa inyong tulong sa panahong ito. Huwag n’yo pong pabayaan ang ating mga kababayang mahihirap po,” he ended.

Go, who also serves as the Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported several infrastructure initiatives to help boost the economic opportunities of the province, including the construction of a multi-purpose building in Brgy. Macanin in Jaro; construction of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) building in Brgy. Jones in Pastrana; installation of streetlights, and construction of a multi-purpose building in Sta. Fe; and the construction of Tacloban Airport and installation of road studs in Tacloban City.

Other projects the Senator supported in the province are the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Abuyog, Alangalang, Babatngon, Carigara, Dagami, Isabel, and La Paz; rehabilitation of public markets in Inopacan, and Mahaplag; construction of farm-to-market roads in Hilongos, Javier, Macarthur, Matalom, Mayorga, and San Miguel; flood control protection works in Alangalang, Javier, Tanauan, and Tolosa; acquisition of multi-purpose vehicles in Burauen, and Tolosa; and acquisition of dump trucks in Inopacan, Isabel, and Villaba.

Go’s outreach team also conducted similar distribution activities in the neighboring towns of Barugo, Tunga, Mayorga, Burauen, and Javier.