Go shares Christmas cheer with patients

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go visited patients and their watchers at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City a few hours before Christmas to extend assistance and spread the holiday cheer.

Go and his staff distributed snacks, food and medicine packs as well as masks to 107 people including 94 watchers and 13 vendors.

The distribution activity was conducted in batches at the Balay Pahulayan, a common resting area at the hospital.

Some received new pairs of shoes and bicycles, while others got computer tablets for their children’s online study.

Personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided financial assistance to the beneficiaries.

Go urged everyone eligible for vaccination and booster shots to avail themselves of the vaccines provided by the government to curb the spread of COVID.

He said that greater public cooperation in the national vaccination drive would help the country attain herd immunity and return to normal.

Go encouraged the beneficiaries and their loved ones with health concerns to avail themselves of the assistance provided by the Malasakit Center at the SPMC.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings under one roof the offices of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The program was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go authored and sponsored in the Senate.

“If your medical expenses cannot be fully covered by the assistance from the Malasakit Center, you can ask help directly from my office and we will pay your hospital bill regardless of your illness,” Go said.

Go thanked Balay Pahulayan supervisor Dawn Banzon and the hospital staff for their dedication and commitment in promoting the welfare and health of the patients.