SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go provided assistance to disadvantaged workers in Catarman, Camiguin on Thursday, November 9.
In a video message, Go recognized the importance of increased government efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos impacted by crises. His proposed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 420 aims to create the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP), under DOLE, offering short-term job opportunities to eligible individuals from disadvantaged rural households if enacted into law.
“Sa totoong lang ‘wag kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Kami ang dapat na magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo,” said Go.
In coordination with former Bonbon Barangay captain Toping Rodriguez, Go’s outreach team assisted 148 individuals and gave them shirts, vitamins, masks, snacks, and balls for basketball and volleyball. There were select recipients of a mobile phone, a watch, and shoes.
The beneficiaries also qualified for livelihood support from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, mentioned that there is a Malasakit Center at Camiguin General Hospital (CGH) in Mambajao. The Malasakit Center, which was enacted into law through a measure that was principally sponsored and authored by Go, is designed to assist indigent Filipinos so that they can conveniently avail of the medical assistance programs gathered under one roof. To date, the centers have so far assisted over seven million Filipinos according to DOH.
“Ang target po ng Malasakit Center ay matulungang mabayaran ang inyong pagpapagamot. Kaya huwag po kayong mahihiyang lumapit sa Malasakit Center dahil para po yan sa inyo, mga kababayan kong Pilipino. At ngayon po, meron na po tayong 159 na Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo,” explained Go.
He then highlighted the passage of Republic Act 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, a law that he principally sponsored and co-authored in the Senate. This law mandates the creation of Regional Specialty Centers within the current DOH regional hospitals.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several infrastructure initiatives in the province to ensure its continued progress.
In Catarman, he supported the construction of a seawall and a multipurpose gymnasium, both in Purok 3; and the construction of a barangay hall and an evacuation center, and the installation of solar lights, all in Purok 4.
Meanwhile, he also supported the construction of a two-story multipurpose building and two-story isolation unit/evacuation center in Guinsiliban; the acquisition of an ambulance unit and a dump truck for the local government of Mahinog; and the construction of an evacuation center in Sagay.
