CEBU CITY – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has called for greater support for vulnerable groups, particularly disaster victims, in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, as he distributed various assistance to residents in Bohol province.
A statement on Wednesday said a team from Go’s office distributed meals, vitamins, face masks and face shields to 943 beneficiaries from different sectoral groups at the Panglao Cultural Center, Dauis municipal gym and Barangay Baluarte covered court in Baclayon on Monday.
The group also provided the same aid to 248 storm surge victims at the Loay municipal gym.
Go encouraged Bohol residents who are eligible for vaccination to register and get their shots so they can protect themselves and others from Covid-19.
“My fellow citizens, the vaccination of senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, economic front-liners and the indigent has already begun. Get vaccinated now to protect yourself and prevent the severe symptoms of Covid-19. Don’t be confident and there is a more dangerous variant called the Delta variant,” he said in Filipino in a video message.
Go told beneficiaries that Covid-19 cases in the country are increasing every day because of the fast transmission of the Delta variant.
“Kaya pakiusap namin ni Presidente Duterte, kailangan namin ang kooperasyon ninyo. Ginagawa ang lahat ng ito ng gobyerno para sa kapakanan ninyo (President Rodrigo Duterte and I are appealing for your cooperation. The government is doing all this for your benefit),” he said.
Selected beneficiaries were given new shoes while others were provided with bicycles.
There were some who received computer tablets to help their children access educational materials.
In a separate distribution activity, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial aid through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.
Salvador Pabalan, 67, a resident of Dauis, thanked Go for bringing aid to them.
“Nung una, nagda-drive ako ng multicab pero ngayon wala ng tumatanggap ng labor kaya nangingisda na lang ako para sa pang-araw-araw na sustento namin. Mahirap talaga at gipit na gipit kami. Minsan nga wala kaming bigas! Pero basta may gulay, ok lang at may pang-ulam kami (At first, I drove a multicab but now no one accepts labor so I just fish for our daily subsistence. We are really poor and desperate. Sometimes we don’t have rice! But as long as there are vegetables, it’s okay, we have viand),” Pabalan said.
The senator also offered medical assistance to individuals facing health concerns.
He advised them to seek medical assistance from the nearest Malasakit Center located at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City or the Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay.
Upon winning a seat in the Senate in 2019, Go had authored and sponsored the measure that eventually became Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
He is now the chair of the Senate committee on health. (PNA)
Photo Credit: Philippine News Agency Official Website
