SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has reaffirmed his commitment to the country’s poorest communities, advocating for consistent governmental response to assist vulnerable sectors including small-scale farmers, fishers, the urban poor, and the unemployed.
“Hindi tayo titigil sa pag-advocate at pag-support sa ating mga kababayan sa kabila ng mga ulat ng pagbaba sa self-rated poverty. Importante na patuloy ang pag-alalay ng gobyerno, lalo na sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan na nasa sektor ng agrikultura, pangingisda, at mga urban poor communities,” said Go.
“Kailangan nila ang tulong na ito, at bilang kanilang lingkod, tungkulin natin na siguruhin na naaabot natin sila sa oras ng kanilang pangangailangan,” he added.
Meanwhile, during a public hearing on April 23, conducted by the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, Go also urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development to address the delays and inconsistencies in the distribution of aid through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
“Bilang tugon, naghain ako ng Senate Bill No. 2638 upang i-institutionalize ang Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) na programa upang agad na makapagbigay ng suporta sa mga Pilipinong biglaang nahaharap sa matinding kahirapan at mga sakuna. Layunin ng aking panukala na tiyakin na walang delay, walang pili, at walang halong pulitika ang tulong ng gobyerno sa tao,” he explained.
Go emphasized that the timely and effective distribution of assistance is crucial for meeting the immediate needs of the vulnerable populations.
Go also filed Senate Bill No. 420 to institutionalize a program providing short-term employment to eligible individuals from underprivileged households. Within the framework of this proposed measure, a program called the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) would be created.
If enacted into law, the primary objective of REAP is to offer temporary employment opportunities to individuals who meet the criteria of being economically disadvantaged, impoverished, displaced, or seasonal workers.
Furthermore, the senator hopes the measure can increase agricultural inputs to boost productivity in the farming sector.
These efforts coincide with positive poverty reduction trends, as OCTA Research reported. The “Tugon ng Masa” survey conducted in early 2024 revealed a decline in self-rated poverty, with 42% or approximately 11.1 million Filipino families considering themselves poor, down from 45% in late 2023.
This trend reflects a modest yet steady improvement over the past five quarters, starting from a 50% high in mid-2023. The poverty reduction was most pronounced in areas such as NCR, which dropped from 40% to 29%, and Balance Luzon, which declined from 46% to 28%.
Despite these positive shifts, challenges remain, particularly in Mindanao, where poverty rates increased from 59% to 71%. This stark contrast highlights the varied economic realities across the country’s regions and the necessity of targeted interventions.
Go, who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to vulnerable sectors, stated, “Uunahin natin ang ating sinumpaang tungkulin. Patuloy tayong tutulong sa mga mahihirap sa abot ng ating makakaya at magmamalasakit sa pinakanangangailangan upang sikaping walang maiiiwan na Pilipino tungo sa economic recovery.”
