Bong Go delivers aid to indigents in Laguna

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reaffirmed his commitment to help vulnerable sectors amid current challenges faced by the country as he and his team delivered aid to struggling families in Calamba City, Laguna on Wednesday, February 15.

“I want to help you, to give solutions to your problems, to help the projects here, and leave a smile at a time of your misery,” said Go in his message to the victims.

Go and his staff held the distribution at the Laguna Provincial Capitol-Extension where they handed out food packs, masks, snacks and vitamins to a total of 396 indigent residents. They also gave away a bicycle, pairs of shoes, cellular phone, watch, shirts, basketballs and volleyballs to select individuals.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, he also underscored the need for the eligible residents to get inoculated and boosted against Covid-19 to better safeguard themselves and their community from the virus.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided the beneficiaries separate cash aid under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Advocating for better access to quality health care services, Go then advised the residents to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers in the province located at Laguna Medical Center in Sta. Cruz and San Pablo City General Hospital in San Pablo City.

Designed to assist particularly poor and indigent patients, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together government agencies with medical assistance programs, including the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The program celebrated its fifth year anniversary this month. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act.

Aside from Malasakit Centers, Go is also pushing for the construction of more Super Health Centers nationwide, especially in rural areas.

Services in the Super Health Centers include database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose and throat service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

In 2022, Go supported the construction of Super Health Centers in the province, particularly in the cities of Biñan, Cabuyao, Calamba, San Pedro and Sta. Rosa; and in the towns of Alaminos and Mabitac.

This year, more Super Health Centers will be established in San Pablo City, and in the towns of Sta. Maria, Los Baños and Calauan.