Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues to help the national government deliver basic public services to vulnerable sectors around the country.

He stressed the need to work together to keep struggling individuals and families safe, secure and healthy as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to adversely affect lives and livelihoods.

In a video message at series of relief missions in Tagbilaran City and the towns of Maribojoc and Loon in Bohol on Thursday, August 5, Go called on concerned authorities to provide additional support to their vulnerable constituents who may be struggling to access food, medicines and other essential items at this time.

“Mga kababayan, magtulungan, magmalasakit at magbayanihan tayo sa ating kapwa. Huwag tayo mawalan ng pag-asa dahil nandito ang gobyernong palaging nagmamalasakit sa inyo. Hindi kayo pababayaan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at ng administrasyong ito,” Go said.

“Pakiusap ko sa mga kapitan, huwag niyong pabayaan ang mga ka-barangay niyo, lalung-lalo na ‘yung mga mahihirap, dahil kayo lang ang matatakbuhan nila,” he added.

Go’s staff provided meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 1,362 residents at the Saulog Gym in Tagbilaran City, People’s Center in Maribojoc and Loon Municipal Gymnasium. The beneficiaries consisted of market vendors and persons with disabilities.

Selected beneficiaries also received new pairs of shoes while some were given computer tablets which their children can use for their blended learning activities. Others were equipped with bicycles to improve their access to basic needs and services amid the ongoing crisis.

To help ease their financial hardships, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, committed to extend further aid based on their existing assistance programs.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, the senator also offered to help beneficiaries and their families access the medical assistance they need. He informed them of the Malasakit Centers at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City and the Don Emilio Del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay.

The centers are a one-stop shop for the government’s medical assistance programs. Its partner agencies include the DSWD, Department of Health, Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate prior to the President signing it into law in December 2019.

”Noong May 5, na-stroke at na-admit ang asawa ko sa ospital. Limang araw siya na-admit tapos namatay din siya noong 10 ng Mayo.

Sinabihan kami na pumunta sa Malasakit Center para matulungan kami, kaya lumapit ‘yung anak ko doon. Sa awa ng Diyos, wala kaming binayaran sa nangyari sa aking asawa,” shared Anabelle Quizan, a market vendor and resident of Tagbiliran City.

“Maraming salamat talaga, Senator, sa maraming tulong ninyo sa amin. Kahit noon pa, sobra-sobra ang kanyang pagtulong sa amin hanggang sa kanyang programa ngayon. Hindi ko talaga inaasahan na isa ako sa makakasali dito dahil nasa bahay lang naman ako nagtitinda,” she continued.

Ending his remarks, the Senator went on to thank local officials for their support and partnership in curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Among those present during the activities were 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto; Governor Arthur Yap; Vice Governor Rene Relampagos; Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II and Vice Mayor Jose Veloso; Maribojoc Mayor Romulo Manuta and Vice Mayor Emilio Castilla; Loon Mayor Elvi Relampagos and Vice Mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez; and Dauis Mayor and Liga ng mga Munisipalidad – Bohol Chapter President Marietta Sumaylo.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported various efforts to boost infrastructure development in Bohol. Among these are the construction of the Cogon Public Market and regional cultural hub in Tagbilaran City; and the completion or construction of multi-purpose buildings in Loon and Tagbilaran City.

He also supported the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Alicia, Anda, Balilihan, Batuan, Buenavista, Danao, Dauis, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia-Hernandez, Guindulman, Loay and Valencia; construction or improvement of evacuation centers in Anda, Balilihan, Carmen, Corella, Garcia-Hernandez, Panglao and Valencia; repair or improvement of the public markets in Bilar, Clarin, Lila and Sagbayan; construction of slaughterhouses in Inabanga and Loay; construction of a fish port with harbor in Jagna; rehabilitation of a multi-purpose pavement in Baclayon; improvement of the public parks in Batuan, Cortes and Duero; purchase of medical equipment for the local governments of Batuan and Calape; purchase of ambulances for Catigbian and Trinidad; and purchase of a dump truck and multi-purpose vehicle for Clarin.

In addition, Go also supported the improvement of farm-to-market and local roads in Alburqueque, Baclayon, Bien Unido, Bilar, Buenavista, Candijay, Dagohoy, Sierra Bullones, Sevilla and Valencia; concreting of existing roads in Alicia, Danao, Garcia-Hernandez, Loboc, Mabini, Pilar, San Miguel, Sevilla, Talibon and Tubigon; construction of the Talibon-Bien Unido Bridge in Bien Unido; street lighting project in Alburqueque, Anda, Antequera, Candijay, Duero, Getfate, Loay, Loboc, San Isidro, Trinidad and Tubigon; rehabilitation of the Antequera and Inabanga waterworks systems; installation of a water system in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia; and construction of a drainage system and canal in Duero.

On July 9, the Senator personally distributed aid to 230 farmers, fisherfolk and former rebels at the Dauis Municipal Gymnasium. He also witnessed the turnover of 500 housing units for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police at the St. Michael Village in the same town.

All activities were carried out in batches to ensure strict adherence to the government-issued health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

“Magseserbisyo ako kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas. Iyan po ang ipinangako ko sa inyo. Gusto ko pong makapagbigay ng solusyon sa inyong mga problema at makapag-iwan po ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” Go assured.