FORMER Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has distributed 13,000 kits for rapid antibody testing as his “malasakit” (compassion) to strengthen Quezon City’s first congressional district defense from coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Marcos, who celebrated his 63rd birthday last Sunday, through his brother-in-law, Martin Araneta turned over the testing kits to House Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City (1st District) Rep. Anthony Peter “Onyx” D. Crisologo.
Crisologo, one of House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez’s trusted and reliable floor leaders during plenary sessions, thanked Marcos for his continued commitment to help Filipinos, especially his constituents in the global fight against COVID-19.
“My sincere gratitude and appreciation to our good former senator Bongbong for his malasakit, selflessness, and dedication to serve the people. I hope that many will emulate the very laudable initiative demonstrated by him to support the national and local government’s COVID-19 response efforts,” Crisologo stressed.
Crisologo said Marcos’ donations would help boost local government units’ (LGUs) limited health care capacity and will translate to direct results such as initial identification of possible COVID-19 cases.
“Let us always bear in mind that every Filipino can be a hero in this time of COVID-19 pandemic by simply following government’s minimum health standards such as physical distancing, regular hand washing, and wearing of a face shield and mask,” Crisologo stressed.
Crisologo distributed the testing kits to different health centers in district one of Quezon City.
“These testing kits will surely benefit many of my constituents,” Crisologo ended.
Last Sunday, Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep Yedda Marie K. Romualdez distributed gift packs to 206 COVID-19 patients and 191 health workers at isolation facilities in Tacloban City.
The project, in partnership with Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, was made in celebration of Marcos’ 63rd birthday.
“In celebration of Bongbong’s birthday, we are reminded to give back to the people, especially the medical frontliners and COVID-19 patients who were victimized by this pandemic. They continue to face the brunt of impact of the coronavirus and this gift giving is a simple message that as their representatives, we support them, and we are here for them,” said the Romualdez couple.
“We commit to aid our kababayans in ways that we can. The times may be uncertain and difficult but our spirit of service to the people shall persist,” the couple added.
The Romualdez couple gave food and basic anti-pandemic essentials to COVID-19 patients staying in Tacloban at Budget Hotel, Ace Francis Hotel, GoHOTEL, Salvacion, and UNDP Cabalawan, and medical frontliners at Madison Park Hotel, and Leyte Park Hotel in Tacloban, and the Schistomiasis Hospital in Palo, Leyte.
Tingog party-list President Glenn Capucion, City Administrator Atty. Aldrin Quebec, and other staff members of Tingog party-list and the Majority Leader’s office were present during the gift-giving.
In an earlier joint project with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the Romualdez couple gave hospital equipment to Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), and offered free accommodation to the hospital’s medical frontliners.
The Romualdezes in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have also turned over 56 air-conditioned rooms from converted shipping containers as temporary mobile facilities for medical frontliners in EVRMC and the Schistosomiasis Hospital.
