On Monday, 15 May, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go dispatched his team to Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte in order to assist impoverished residents as part of his ongoing initiative to aid underprivileged Filipinos.

“Magtulungan lang po tayo. Ginagawa po ng gobyerno ang lahat, binabalanse ang ekonomiya habang sinisigurado po na tayo ay ligtas mula sa pandemya,” underscored Go in his video message. 

Unti-unti naman pong sumisigla ulit ang ekonomiya pero importante po dito ang buhay ng bawat isa. Sikapin nating walang magutom at walang mapabayaan. Magmalasakit tayo sa kapwa nating mga Pilipinong nangangailangan,” he added.

Held at the municipal gymnasium, Go’s staff distributed snacks and vitamins to a total of 366 struggling residents. They also provided shoes, cellular phones, bicycles, and balls for basketball to select individuals. 

Furthermore, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to the residents. 

Go then offered additional help to those in need of medical attention. He also encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Centers at the Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City and Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City where they can more conveniently access medical assistance from the government. 

With over seven million particularly poor and indigent Filipinos helped nationwide, according to the Department of Health, the Malasakit Centers program has successfully established 157 centers, bringing together relevant agencies, including the aforementioned agency, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to help reduce a patient’s hospital expenses to the lowest possible amount. 

“Pera naman ito ng taumbayan na binabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng maayos at maaasahang serbisyo. Kaya sa mga poor at indigent patients diyan, puntahan niyo na lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para talaga sa inyo ito,” reassured Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the senator has likewise supported numerous initiatives to promote the development of the province, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings in Dapitan City, Jose Dalman, Mutia, President Manuel A. Roxas, Salug, Siocon, and Sindangan; acquisition of ambulance units for Mutia; trucks for Katipunan and Mutia; and rehabilitation of roads in Dapitan City, Godod, Jose Dalman, Liloy, Kalawit Labason, La Libertad, Sergio Osmeña and Salug.