SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go continues to push for stronger government efforts to create more livelihood opportunities for disadvantaged Filipinos recovering from various crises.
Go’s team coordinated with Gov. Daniel Fernando and Mayor Christian Natividad to assist struggling micro-entrepreneurs in Malolos City, Bulacan on Thursday, November 9.
Go’s team provided masks and shirts to 136 Bulakeños gathered that day. They also gave away shoes and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients.
Aside from Go’s assistance, a team from DTI provided negosyo kits at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office to qualified beneficiaries through a livelihood program that Go earlier advocated for and continues to support to help more affected communities recover from calamities and other crises.
“Itong matatanggap niyo, gamitin niyo po sa pagbubukas o pagpapalakas ng inyong negosyo. Palaguin niyo ang inyong negosyo at dalhin ang mga kita sa inyong pamilya. Mas masarap po sa pakiramdam kung pinaghirapan ninyo ang perang inyong kikitain,” Go said in a video message.
Go expressed optimism towards economic recovery and highlighted the importance of generating more job opportunities, especially for the underprivileged.
“Alam ko pong napakahirap ng panahon ngayon at marami pang nawalan ng trabaho pero huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa dahil ginagawa po ng gobyerno ang lahat upang kayo po ay matulungan at makaahon muli,” reaffirmed Go.
The senator authored and co-sponsored Republic Act 11960 or the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act. The law aims to assist and capacitate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in developing new, innovative, and more complex products and services through significant improvement in the areas of quality, product development, design, packaging, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, brand development, sustainability, and securing licenses, product registration and other market authorization, among others.
Go highlighted the OTOP program’s potential to create jobs, stimulate economic growth in communities, and empower Filipinos to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. The senator added that by promoting and investing in locally made products, the OTOP Philippines Act can help revitalize local economies and provide sustainable livelihoods for countless individuals and families across the country.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go has consistently emphasized the importance of improving and expanding the country’s healthcare system to guarantee accessible medical services for disadvantaged populations. He stressed that a healthy population is crucial in achieving economic recovery.
Given this, he has been advocating for the establishment of Super Health Centers across the country to bring primary health care, medical consultations and early disease detection closer to communities in need.
He also remains dedicated to improving access to the government’s medical assistance programs as he encouraged Bulakeños to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers at Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City, Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria, and Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte in San Jose del Monte City.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he principally sponsored and authored in the Senate to help indigent patients with their medical expenses in public hospitals. To date, there are 159 operational centers that have successfully helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide.
Go also shared the enactment into law of the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The legislation, which Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate, aims to bring specialized medical care closer to the grassroots by establishing specialty centers in existing regional hospitals.
With this, Go expressed his confidence that the government’s health services will be more accessible to Filipinos in need especially in the grassroots.
“Marami po sa mga kababayan natin sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Pilipinas ang walang sapat na health facilities na makakagamot sa kanilang mga karamdaman. Kaya importante na mailapit natin ang serbisyong medikal mula gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito,” he stressed.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, underscored his support for the progress of the province.
The senator supported the rehabilitation of the Bulacan State University Activity Center and the construction of a multipurpose building in Malolos City, construction of drainages, provision of medical equipment for local hospitals, improvement of Pandi District Hospital, concreting of a farm-to-market road in San Ildefonso, and many more.
