Strengthen efforts to recover from pandemic – Bong Go

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go has reiterated his appeal to continue strengthening the country’s efforts for a faster recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the relief operations for hundreds of Manileños in Pandacan and Blumentritt on Wednesday, he urged the 332 beneficiaries to remain vigilant and disciplined even when Metro Manila is placed under Alert Level 1. Recipients were given masks and meals, aside from the financial assistance given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Some select individuals were given new pairs of shoes, computer tablets and bicycles.

Go, who chairs the Senate committee on health and demography, encouraged in a video message those eligible to participate in the national vaccination program to be a part of the solution.

“And to the local government units and the national government, let us help each other. If we need to reach out to senior citizens and PWDs, then let us do so to protect them,” he said in Filipino.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to avail of the services of the Malasakit Centers should they need medical assistance.

As part of his commitment to improve health care services nationwide, Go primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which aims to give poor and indigent patients convenient access to the medical assistance programs offered by relevant agencies. There are 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide to date.

The Malasakit Centers in Manila are located at the Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and Tondo Medical Center.

Go said there are four government agencies – PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Health and the DSWD – inside the Malasakit Centers in hospitals. These agencies, he noted, can help indigent patients with settling their bills.

He thanked local officials for ensuring their constituents are not left behind in the path towards recovery.

As vice chair of the Senate committee on finance, Go supported several initiatives in Manila, including the procurement of medical supplies and equipment, ambulance units and rescue patrol service vehicles.

He was also instrumental in several projects across Metro Manila, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings and halls in the cities of Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Quezon and Parañaque; acquisition of ambulance units in the cities of Navotas, Parañaque, Taguig and Valenzuela; acquisition of multipurpose vehicles in Muntinlupa City; rehabilitation of the Navotas Polytechnic College facilities in Navotas City and construction of a seven-story Valenzuela Center for Academic Excellence in Valenzuela City.

Other projects he supported are the construction of an advanced Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Vertical Expansion of New ER Building in East Avenue Medical Center and the rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Road Network and Veterans Memorial Medical Center Road Network, all in Quezon City.