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Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to Filipinos to support the country’s COVID-19 response by exercising the mandatory precautionary measures to stop the spread of the virus amid the emergence of newer and more contagious variants.

‘Preventing the spread of COVID-19 starts with us,’ Bong Go made the call during a relief efforts conducted in Kananga, Merida, and Palompon, Leyte

He emphasized the need for solidarity and cooperation to save more lives and reduce people’s suffering at this time.

“Pinaalalahanan ko ang publiko na ang social distancing at pagsuot ng mask ay ang mga pangunahing paraan upang maproteksyunan ang ating sarili at mga mahal sa buhay. Huwag natin balewalain ang mga simpleng patakaran na ito na makakapagligtas ng buhay ng kapwa nating Pilipino,” said Go.

“Lagi natin alalahanin na hindi kaya ng gobyernong mag-isa ang laban kontra pandemya. Hindi rin kakayanin ng mga frontliners kung patuloy na dadami ang mga kaso. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 starts with us by being responsible citizens and following the health and safety protocols,” he continued.

Go’s outreach team distributed meals, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 1,500 residents, composed of solo parents, persons with disabilities, market vendors, transport workers, and other vulnerable residents. The activities were held at the Kananga ABC Hall, Palompon Civic Center, and Barangay Poblacion recreation center in Merida.

Selected recipients were given bicycles for a more convenient commute while some received new pairs of shoes. Others received computer tablets to help their children access school materials for their classes under the blended learning approach.

To further ensure their welfare, the Senator offered assistance to the sick and elderly in need of medical treatment. He also advised them to use the services of the Malasakit Centers program so they can avail of the medical assistance offered by the government.

The primary aim of the Malasakit Center is to help patients with high health care costs by covering various services and out-of-pocket expenses. There are currently 141 centers nationwide, the nearest of which are located at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City; new Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City; Ormoc District Hospital; and Leyte Provincial Hospital and Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center (GBTRGHSC) in Palo.

“Sa mga pasyente dito, hindi niyo na kailangang bumiyahe para pumila sa iba’t ibang opisina para makahingi ng tulong mula sa gobyerno. Kung may bill kayo, ilapit niyo lang ‘to sa Malasakit Center. Wala itong pinipili. Basta poor at indigent patient ka, qualified ka,” said Go, who authored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

As part of a wider cross-government response, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also granted each beneficiary financial assistance to help them overcome the challenges caused by the public health crisis.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in turn conducted assessments for their respective assistance programs.

“Ako ay isang manicurista dito sa Palompon, Leyte. Ngayong may pandemya, parehas pa rin ang buhay. Mahirap pero kinakaya para sa mga anak. Iyung panganay ko na fourteen years old, nagtutulungan kami para makaraos kami sa araw-araw,” said Myra Moyar, 46.

“Kalahati ng natanggap ko ay pupunta sa bahay kasi nangungupa lang kami. Ang iba, ibibili ko ng Cutix at acetone para sa aking hanapbuhay. Maraming, maraming salamat kay Senator Bong Go at Presidente Rodrigo Duterte at isa ako sa mga nakatanggap ng tulong. Sana matulungan niyo pa po ang mga iba dito” she added.

To conclude his message, the Senator recognized various public officials for their leadership during the ongoing crisis. Among these were 4th District Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, Governor Leopoldo Petilla, Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, Kananga Mayor Manuel Torres and Vice Mayor Miguel Tan, Merida Mayor Rolando Villasencio and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Wenceslao, and Palompon Mayor Myra Arevalo and Vice Mayor Ramon Oñate.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has supported many initiatives to promote rural infrastructure development in Leyte. They include the construction, concreting, rehabilitation and improvement of local roads in Palompon; and the construction of the Merida Community Hospital, an evacuation center, isolation building and access road leading to the municipal hall in Merida.

He also supported the rehabilitation of the roads along the JNR – Makinhas – Ciabu – Monterico and JNR – Hilongos – Liberty – Conception – Bagumbayan – Hampangan – Cacao – Utanan road sections, and the installation of LED solar road studs along the Daang Maharlika Road.

Other major initiatives include the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Abuyog, Alangalang, Babatngon, Carigara, Dagami, Isabel, Jaro, La Paz, Sante Fe, and Tolosa; construction of an evacuation center in Abuyog; construction of flood control structures in Alangalang, Javier, Tanauan, Tolosa and Baybay City; and acquisition of dump trucks for the local government of Inopacan, Isabel and Villaba.

To improve the delivery of health services in the province, Go also previously sponsored and successfully pushed for the passage of two measures in the Senate which increased the bed capacity of the EVRMC and converted the Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital into the GBTRGHSC.

The previous day, September 24, his team conducted similar activities for the vulnerable residents in Jaro, Santa Fe, Pastrana, and Tacloban City. All activities were held in batches in compliance with the health and safety protocols.