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Senator Christopher “Bong” Go recently reassured disadvantaged residents during different activities in Davao City that his office will continue to give crucial assistance where required and work together with local officials to help individuals.

“Ngayon ay nasa isang krisis na naman tayo. Marami ang nagsarado na negosyo at nawalan ng trabaho dulot ng pandemyang COVID-19. Bilang inyong Senador, nagsisikap ako upang makapagbigay ng tulong gamit ang ating mga programa,” Go said.

The Senator and his team provided snacks, meal packs, vitamins, masks, and face shields to 600 locals in groups in Barangays Governor Vicente Duterte, Kapitan Tomas Monteverde, Sr., and Leon Garcia to meet their immediate needs.

Go personally visited the recipients a day before to check on their current situation. The recipients consisted of contractual workers; tricycle drivers and operators; fisherfolk; out-of-school youth; senior citizens; solo parents; and members of the LGBT community.

New pairs of shoes were given to certain recipients, while bicycles were given to another group. Some of the recipients were also given computer tablets to aid their children in their studies.

“Pakiusap lang namin sa mga kabataan ay mag-aral kayo nang mabuti kahit wala pa tayong face-to-face learning ngayon… Hindi natin basta-basta mabubuksan ang eskwela dahil delikado pa ang panahon,” he said.

“Kapag mayroon nagpositibo sa classroom, mahirapan tayo dahil ang bata pa naman ay hindi pa bakunado. Kaya naman pinag-aaralan pa ng gobyerno ngayon ang pagbabalik ng ating face-to-face learning,” Go added.

Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial assistance, while representatives from the Department of Agriculture distributed vegetable seeds to aid their livelihood and help ensure food security. These are part of a comprehensive set of government interventions for individuals and communities in crisis.

The Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective livelihood assistance and skills training programs.

Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health, urged people to be vaccinated. He noted that the immunizations significantly minimize the likelihood of having severe COVID-19 symptoms and even death.

“Ang bakuna ang susi at solusyon para malampasan ang krisis na ito. Magpabakuna na po kayo para makamtan natin ang population protection kung saan mabakunahan na ang 50% sa populasyon. Ngayon ‘pag dumating na tayo sa 70%, ito ang tinatawag na herd immunity,” explained Go.

“Kailangan protektado kayo para hindi mapuno ang ospital at bumagsak ang healthcare system,” he added.

Go offered his help to those with medical concerns. He also advised them to visit the Malasakit Center located at the Southern Philippines Medical Center or any of the other 138 centers found nationwide for convenient access to medical assistance programs.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where medical assistance programs of the national government are conveniently available under one roof. The program was institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which Go primarily authored and sponsored in the Senate.

The Senator recognized various local officials for their untiring service and exemplary leadership amid the various crises communities are facing. Among those that Go acknowledged were 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, 2nd District Rep. Vincent Garcia, Mayor Sara Duterte, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Councilor Che-Che Justol, barangay officials Remedios dela Luz, Robert Diaz, and Lita Empis, among others.

“Kami ni Pangulong Duterte, mahal namin kayong lahat. Huwag kayong mahiya sa akin, magkapitbahay lang tayo… Nandito lang kami at magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya. Magsusumikap kami na ating malampasan ang krisis na ito,” Go assured.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported various infrastructure initiatives in Davao City to improve public service delivery and boost economic opportunities in his hometown.

Among these are the improvement of the Leon Garcia Sr. barangay hall; the construction of various multi-purpose buildings and local roads in different barangays around the city including a Day Care Center; and many more.

Other major initiatives include the construction or rehabilitation of water systems, drainage systems, and flood control structures, as well as the construction of a 300-bed capacity infectious diseases building and acquisition of ambulances, among others.