Senator Christopher “Bong” Go led the distribution activity for thousands of struggling residents in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental following his visit in Tangub City earlier that same day to launch the 143rd Malasakit Center at Doña Maria D. Tan Memorial Hospital and to distribute assistance to small business owners at Sinanduloy Cultural Center.

“Mahal namin kayo ni Presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte at magkapitbahay lang tayo. Mga taga-Misamis, mahal namin kayo. Bisaya tayo at magkapitbahay lang tayo, Region 11 kami, Region 10 kayo,” Go said in his remarks.

“Kami ni President Duterte nahihirapan din kami ngayon. Pero kayo ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin. Ang importante, mabuksan ang ekonomiya, walang magutom at makapagtrabaho na ulit ang ating mga kababayan, ‘yun ang pinaka importante,” Go continued.

Go’s team held the activity at Medina Gymnasium where they grouped the 1,200 beneficiaries into smaller batches and implemented necessary safety protocols to protect the public’s well-being from the threat of coronavirus.

Go’s staff handed out grocery packs, meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins to each resident. The team also gave new pairs of shoes and bicycles to selected recipients. They also gave away computer tablets to help children as they pursue their education under the blended learning approach.

“Pinapasaya lang namin kayo, gusto lang namin na makapagbigay ng kaunting tulong sa inyo, makatulong sa mga mahihirap at hindi lang ‘yan, kaya ako nandito, para makapag-iwan ng ngiti sa oras ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” Go expressed.

“Tao lang kami ni Pangulong Duterte, napapagod din kami. Pero hindi kami hihinto sa pagtatrabaho kung nakikita namin na makakatulong kami sa mga Pilipino, nawawala ang aming pagod. Makita kong masaya ang ating mga kababayan, nawawala ang pagod ko,” he continued.

Go then commended several government agencies which offered additional assistance to further help the residents. Staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance while the Department of Agriculture gave vegetable seeds.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry conducted on-site assessments where potential beneficiaries were given the opportunity to take part in their respective livelihood programs.

Lastly, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted assessments for their scholarship programs.

“Bilang isang solo parent ngayon na panahon ng pandemic, sobra mahirap talaga kasi ang tinatrabahuan ko ay nagsara. Tapos ako lamang ang nagtataguyod sa anak ko. Humihingi lamang ako ng tulong sa mga kapatid ko,” Christy Palgan, one of the beneficiaries, shared in an interview.

“Kaya ako ay nagpapasalamat kay Senator Bong Go, sa DSWD, at sa iba pa, dahil nakatanggap kami ng tulong. Sobra saya ko. Maraming salamat, Senator Bong Go,” she continued.

The senator, who is also the Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, advised the residents with medical concerns to visit the Malasakit Center at the Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in the city or in the recently opened center at Doña Maria D. Tan Memorial Center in Tangub City where they can conveniently avail of medical assistance programs by the government.

“Dito sa Misamis Occidental, mayroon na kayong dalawang Malasakit Center na handang tumulong sa inyo. Batas na ito at isinulong ko sa tulong ni Congressman Henry, sponsor sa Kongreso,” said Go.

“Mandated by law itong Malasakit Center, basta ako isusulong ko kung ano ang ikabubuti ng ating mga kababayan. Ngayon, mayroon ng three million na pasyente ang natulungan sa buong Pilipinas at mayroon na tayong 143 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas,” he continued.

As local government units are preparing for the vaccine roll-out to the general public, Go urged the public to trust and support the national vaccination drive and get inoculated once vaccines are available in their community.

“Mayroon akong pakiusap sa inyo, mayroon kaming pakiusap ni Presidente Duterte. Ang pakiusap namin sa inyo, magtiwala kayo sa bakuna. Proven na ang bakuna ang susi o solusyon para makamtan natin ang population protection,” Go said.

“Kaya pakiusap ko lang sa mga taga-Ozamiz, nandito naman ang mga healthworkers dito, kung mahal ninyo ang inyong mga healthworkers, kung ayaw niyo na silang pahirapan pa, magpabakuna na kayo,” he added.

So, as Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported various infrastructure projects in the city to further boost economic development and delivery of public service, including the rehabilitation of Ozamiz Airport, road rehabilitation and installation of street lights in several areas, and the construction of multi-purpose building in Ozamiz City Cluster.

Go commended Representative Henry Oaminal, Mayor Ando Oaminal, and other local officials for their service to their constituents amid crisis situations. Ending his remarks, Go, an aspiring Vice President, appealed to his fellow public servants to continue the projects and programs that the Duterte Administration started in order to deliver his promise of providing a more comfortable life for Filipinos.

“Gawin natin na mas komportable ang pamumuhay ng ating mga kapatid. Unahin natin ang mga mahihirap, kung ano maitutulong natin. Sa mga walang matatakbuhan, sa mga hopeless at sa mga helpless uunahin ko sila,” Go highlighted.

“Ang importante sa amin ngayon ay malampasan natin ang pandemyang ito. Lagi nating tatandaan, minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na puwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa tao, gawin na natin dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” he ended.

After the activity, Go went to Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center where his team and staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided assistance to patients, medical frontliners, and rank-and-file hospital employees. Go then went to visit the first Malasakit Center in the province located in MHARSMC to provide further support to improve the hospital’s service to its constituents.