Bong Go’s team provides support to indigents in Orion, Bataan

Sen. Bong Go continues to intensify his efforts in supporting more vulnerable communities as he had his team visit Orion, Bataan on Monday, 21 November, to provide necessary aid to hundreds of its indigents.

Senator Go, through his video message, reminded the public to remain vigilant and adhere to the necessary health protocols in spite of the voluntary face mask use.

The senator likewise reassured that the government continues to intensify its efforts to ensure that no Filipino is left behind towards recovery.

"Andiyan pa rin po ang banta ng COVID-19 kaya po palagi po tayong mag-iingat, mga kababayan ko. Kahit po maluwag na po ang patakaran sa paggamit ng face mask, magsuot pa rin tayo hanggang maaari dahil dagdag proteksyon laban sa virus," encouraged Go.

As part of his commitment to look after Filipinos' well-being at this time of crisis, Go, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reminded the public to make their health a priority, highlighting the services of Malasakit Centers if they may need further medical assistance.

The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 mandates all hospitals managed and administered by the Department of Health to establish their own Malasakit Centers to ensure that poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail of the medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

With 153 Malasakit Centers established, including Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital and Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga City, the program has helped millions of Filipinos since its launch in 2018.

Go's outreach team handed out snacks and masks to 333 indigents at the Kamalig Sports Complex while they also gave away bicycles, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Lastly, representatives from DSWD separately gave financial assistance.

The senator, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several projects, including the construction of a drainage canal in Abucay and Dinalupihan; the construction of Orani District Hospital with 150-bed capacity; construction of multipurpose buildings in Bagac, Balanga City, Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Limay, Orion and Pilar; acquisition of ambulance units in Pilar and Samal; and construction of a slaughterhouse in Hermosa.

Furthermore, he supported the construction of two Super Health Centers in Dinalupihan and Mariveles.

Super Health Centers are medium versions of polyclinics and are bigger than rural health units, which offer basic services such as out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit, among others.

Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

"Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang po tayo. Ipagpatuloy lang po natin ang pagbabayanihan dahil ito po ang ating kinakailangan sa ngayon. Hindi po kayo pababayaan ng gobyerno at sabay-sabay po tayo aahon mula sa pandemyang ito," reassured Go.

"Kaunting tiis lang po. Alam ko pong nahihirapan na kayo. Pero magtiwala lang po kayo sa gobyerno dahil kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin upang makapagserbisyo pa po, araw-araw po. Makita lang ang inyong mga ngiti ay nakakapawi na po ng pagod," he ended.

Go's team mounted a two-day relief for more struggling communities in Abucay on October 27 to 28.