Senator Christopher “Bong Go” urged Bulakeños to remain supportive of the government’s vaccination efforts as his office provided relief to struggling sectors in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan on 24 and 25 August.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the senator reiterated the need to intensify vaccine rollouts in remote areas to ensure that more Filipinos are better protected from COVID-19.
“Patuloy lang po tayo sa pagbabakuna para maabot na natin ang population protection. Magtiwala po kayo sa bakuna dahil ito lang po ang susi natin sa ngayon upang makabalik na tayo sa normal na pamumuhay,” encouraged Go in a video message.
“Pero pakiusap ko lang din po na kahit patuloy ang ating pagbabakuna, huwag pa rin po maging kumpiyansa dahil ito pong COVID-19 ay isang kalaban na hindi natin nakikita. Sumunod pa rin po tayo sa mga health protocols,” he added.
For a well-organized distribution, the team of Go mounted the relief operation for 1,666 Bulakeños, composed of indigents from various sectors, and eight fire-hit households, at the San Jose del Monte City Convention Center.
They distributed snacks, masks and shirts, and provided select residents cellular phones, bicycles, shoes, and balls for volleyball and basketball. Fire victims were also given grocery packs.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended aid to help the residents recover.
In line with his commitment to look after the Filipinos’ health and well-being, Go likewise offered to help those who are in need of hospital care. He also advised them to seek the assistance of the Malasakit Centers located at Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City or Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria.
After witnessing the struggles of financially incapacitated Filipinos in getting medical assistance from the government, Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 and later principally authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 to institutionalize the program.
“Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD. Meron na po tayong 151 centers sa buong bansa. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing,” Go explained.
Go has also supported several infrastructure initiatives in the city, including the rehabilitation of the City Convention Center, construction of multipurpose buildings in various barangays, construction of a criminology building inside San Jose del Monte City College, and construction of flood control structures in Brgy. Dulong Bayan.
On 10 August, Go’s team likewise provided assistance to indigents in Malolos City.