Go’s team continues Cagayan relief ops

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's Malasakit Team conducted a relief operation for struggling residents in Abulug, Cagayan this week. The relief effort came exactly one week after he led a similar mission in Pamplona.

The relief operation was held at Abulug Municipal Hall, and 130 residents received masks, vitamins, shirts, basketball and volleyball balls, and shoes, among other things.

The National Housing Authority, through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program, also helped qualified beneficiaries rebuild through Go's initiative.

Go also stressed the importance of prioritizing one's health, as he encouraged them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City for government-backed medical assistance.

When he was still Special Assistant to former president Rodrigo Duterte, Go launched the Malasakit Centers program in 2018, with the inaugural center opening in Cebu City.

It was later institutionalized under Republic Act 11463, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go when he won a Senate seat in 2019.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide, which have assisted around 10 million indigent Filipinos and counting.

Go also cited the eight Super Health Centers that were funded in the province to bring primary care, medical consultations, and early disease detection closer to communities, including in Sta. Praxedes, Peñablanca, Sta. Teresita, Buguey, Lal-lo, Aparri, Sto. Niño and Tuao.

Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, local government units, and DoH, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023.