SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go‘s Malasakit Team assisted small business owners affected by current economic difficulties in Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte, on Wednesday, May 22.
Held at the Quimbo Function Hall, the Malasakit Team distributed snacks, shirts, vitamins, and balls for basketball and volleyball to 50 small business owners. A select recipient also received a pair of shoes.
Meanwhile, in partnership with Mayor Justin Quimbo and the national government, they extended sustainable livelihood support to the qualified beneficiaries, which may help open and expand small businesses to sustain the needs of their communities.
“Iba talaga kapag sariling kayod, kapag pinagpaguran mo ang kinikita mo. Merong dangal dito, kasi hindi naman sa lahat ng oras merong mga ibang tao o ahensyang araw-araw na magbibigay ng tulong sa atin,” said Go.
“Turuan natin sila kung paano makapag-negosyo. Bigyan natin ng kapital. Kung magagawa natin ito, mabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong kumita para sa kanilang pamilya at makatulong sa komunidad,” he added.
As a lawmaker, Go is one of the authors and co-sponsors of Republic Act 11960, known as the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act, which institutionalizes a strategic initiative tailored to nurturing the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) throughout the country.
Highlighting the importance of investing in quality yet affordable healthcare, Go mentioned the Malasakit Centers at Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City and the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City.
After witnessing the hardships of poor Filipinos in getting assistance for their medical-related concerns, Go was prompted to push for the enactment of Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he principally authored and sponsored.
Currently, 165 operational centers nationwide have helped more or less ten million Filipinos nationwide, as reported by the DOH.
In the end, Mr. Malasakit Go thanked the local officials for their dedication to uplifting the lives of their constituents amid post-pandemic challenges.
“Ako naman ay patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at yan po ang pinangako ko sa inyo na pagserbisyuhan kayo mga kababayan ko,” he concluded.
