Go lauds Valenzuela’s first jab hub

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go witnessed the inauguration of the Valenzuela City government’s Wellness Entertainment Sports or WES Arena on Thursday.

In his speech, Go expressed confidence that the arena will enable the city government’s vaccine drive to expand at a faster rate. He reminded officials to “continue prioritizing getting their constituents vaccinated ahead of the campaign season.”

Go chairs the Senate committees on sports and health.

The 1.2 hectare facility, an initiative of Deputy Speaker and Valenzuela District 1 Rep. Weslie Gatchalian, is the first multi-sports arena in the city and will feature basketball courts, a volleyball court and a badminton area, among others.

The arena will continue to be used as a vaccination site until the conclusion of the city’s COVID-19 vaccination program.

Go also announced the official launch of Valenzuela’s second Malasakit Center at the Valenzuela Medical Center, also on Thursday.

The facility is the country’s 142nd Malasakit Center.

The first Malasakit Center in the city opened at the Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital in August 2019.

Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops that host the government agencies with programs that provide medical assistance to patients, particularly the poor and indigent. The agencies include the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.