Go urges youth to get into sports

CEBU, Philippines —  Apart from food, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has included balls for basketball and volleyball in his aid distribution to Cebu City residents as means to promote sports to the youth.

Through the initiative of Cebu City South District Representative Eduardo “Edu” Rama, Go’s outreach team joined two separate relief activities at Lourdes Gymnasium and Rama Compound Gymnasium in Cebu City on October 13 and 14, respectively, for a total of 1,200 impoverished residents.

 All beneficiaries received snacks as there were select recipients of shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball from the senator.

“Ang advocacy ko po ay health and sports. Para po sa ating mga kabataan, get into sports and stay away from drugs. Huwag po natin sayangin ang nasimulan ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na kampanya laban sa iligal na droga,” urged Go in a video message explaining why he provides balls in communities to encourage the youth to participate in sports.

Qualified beneficiaries also received financial assistance from the national government in coordination with the Rep. Rama.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go acknowledges the challenges faced by financially incapacitated Filipinos in getting quality healthcare. As such, he advise the people to seek medical assistance programs available in the Malasakit Centers in the province.

“Ang Malasakit Center po ay batas na, isinulong ko noon, pinirmahan ni dating Pangulong Duterte. Para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center handa pong tumulong ‘yan sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Meron na po tayong 159 Malasakit Centers sa buong bansa,” said Go, principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

In Cebu City, Malasakit Centers are located at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Cebu City Medical Center, and St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital. Other Malasakit Centers in the province are located at Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City, and Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City.

Go also championed the construction of Super Health Centers in strategic locations as identified by the Department of Health (DOH) nationwide. Through the collective efforts of Go, DOH, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023.

Go emphasizes the critical role that Super Health Centers play in decongesting hospitals, facilitating early disease detection, and providing essential healthcare services such as primary care and medical consultations directly to the community.

Last October 7, Go’s team also assisted some indigents in Cebu City. (CEBU NEWS)