Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, adopted son of Sultan Kudarat, provided on Tuesday, 10 October, various forms of assistance to underprivileged residents and displaced workers in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat. The event took place at the Bolebak gymnasium, with 120 beneficiaries benefitting from the outreach.

A day before, Go attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a Super Health Center in Esperanza town and conducted on-site inspection of several projects he advocated for before, including the road concreting initiative in the town, which extends from the junction of National Highway-Barangay Saliao to Purok Masagana Farm-to-Market Road.

In coordination with Barangay Captain Ernesto Q. Celeste Sr. of Barangay Bolebak, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, Go's team distributed snacks and shirts to each beneficiary. The senator's staff also gave away basketball and volleyball shoes and balls to select recipients.

The beneficiaries also qualified for employment assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment through its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

"Sa pamamagitan ng programa na ito, ang gobyerno ay tumutulong sa mga manggagawang naapektuhan ng krisis at nakakapagbigay ng pansamantalang trabaho sa kanila," Go said in a video message.

"Patuloy po tayong magtutulungan upang mas mapabuti pa ang kalagayan ng ating mga disadvantaged at displaced workers. Magkasama tayo sa layuning ito na makabuo ng mas ligtas at mas matatag na lipunan para sa lahat ng Pilipino," he added.

To further promote the welfare of Filipino workers affected by crises and ensure that those who reside in rural areas lacking job opportunities are taken care of, Go filed Senate Bill No. 420, which seeks to offer temporary employment to eligible members of low-income rural households who are ready to perform unskilled physical labor for a period of time.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, then urged beneficiaries to visit the nearest Malasakit Center located at Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital in Isulan if they require medical assistance for their healthcare needs.

"One-stop shop, nasa loob ng hospital ang Malasakit Center. Lapitan n'yo lang po iyan, para sa inyo 'yan, para sa Pilipino 'yan, para sa mga poor and indigent patients, tutulungan kayo n'yan," he added.

Since the first Malasakit Center was established in 2018, there are now 159 centers that have assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH.

As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has been instrumental in securing funds for a wide range of projects across various municipalities in the province.

These projects include the concreting of roads in Esperanza, Bagumbayan, Isulan, Lambayong, Lebak, Lutayan and Tacurong City. Additionally, he supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Columbio and Isulan, as well as the procurement of ambulance units for other towns.