AMID current economic difficulties, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go‘s steadfast commitment to serving the Filipinos towards recovery remains as he aided indigents in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur on Wednesday, May 22.
“Ang ating dedikasyon sa serbisyong publiko ay mas lumalalim sa mga panahong tulad nito. Sa pamamagitan ng ating pagtutulungan, sama-sama ang ating pag-ahon,” said Go.
A total of 1,000 residents gathered at the municipal gym, where the senator’s Malasakit Team gave away snacks, balls for basketball and volleyball, shirts, masks, and vitamins. He also gave select recipients shoes and a mobile phone.
Meanwhile, on partnership with Mayor Justin Marc Pelenio, the struggling residents received financial support from the government.
As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go urged the public to utilize medical and financial assistance from any Malasakit Centers located at the Bislig District Hospital in Bislig City and Lianga District Hospital in Lianga. He also urged them to seek assistance from the nearby Malasakit Center at the Butuan Medical Center in Butuan City.
These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
Currently, 165 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The Department of Health reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more or less ten million Filipinos.
Go has also been championing efforts to bring primary care, medical consultations, and early disease detection closer to the grassroots through the establishment of more Super Health Centers nationwide.
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health, led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers. In Surigao del Sur, nine Super Health Centers are funded.
“Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” underscored Go, who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassonate service.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has advocated for various initiatives in Surigao del Sur. Among these projects are the construction and rehabilitation of roads in Cagwait, Tago, Hinatuan, Tandag City, San Agustin, and San Miguel; construction of multipurpose buildings in Cantilan, Carrascal, Bayabas, Cortes, Hinatuan, Tagbina, Tago, Madrid, Marihatag, Lianga, and Lingig; the construction of evacuation centers in Carmen and Bislig City; and installation of street lights in Barobo and Hinatuan.
He also supported the acquisition of ambulances in San Agustin, Lanuza, Lianga, and Lingig, multipurpose vehicles for Marihatag and Carmen, and a fire truck and a mini dump truck for Bayabas.
