SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Team, in partnership with the city government of Iloilo City led by Mayor Jerry Treñas and in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), provided various forms of assistance to displaced workers on Thursday, April 11.
The relief activity coincided with Go’s visit to Iloilo province, where he also aided displaced workers in Pototan town.
The initiative was conducted at the Barangay Zamora covered court, impacting 500 displaced workers. The Malasakit Team team provided each beneficiary with snacks, grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and shirts. In addition, select individuals were gifted with shoes, a mobile phone, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
Separately, DOLE offered employment assistance through its welfare program for qualified disadvantaged and displaced workers.
“Sa pamamagitan ng programa na ito, tayo ay nakatutulong sa mga manggagawang naapektuhan ng krisis at nagbibigay ng agarang tulong sa kanilang mga pangangailangan sa pamamagitan ng pansamantalang trabaho na makakatulong sa komunidad,” Go said in a video message.
“Patuloy po tayong magtutulungan upang mas mapabuti pa ang kalagayan ng ating mga disadvantaged at displaced workers. Magkasama tayo sa layuning ito na makabuo ng mas makatarungan at mas matatag na lipunan para sa lahat ng Pilipino,” he added.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography also offered to assist those with health-related concerns. He encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Centers at West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City.
After witnessing the struggles of low-income Filipinos in securing medical assistance from the government, Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018. The program was later institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go. To date, there are 162 Malasakit Centers that have helped over ten million Filipinos nationwide, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Other Malasakit Centers in the province are located at Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Western Visayas Sanitarium, and General Hospital in Santa Barbara.
The senator also highlighted that he continues to support the establishment of Super Health Centers across the country, which shall improve the healthcare system and bring primary care, consultations, and early disease detection closer to communities. Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including 27 in Iloilo province.
Moreover, the senator is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the recently passed Republic Act 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
“Sabi ko nga pera n’yo naman ‘yan, pera ng tao ‘yan, ilapit po natin ang serbisyong nararapat para sa kanila. Huwag po natin silang pahirapan. Kaya importante na mailapit natin ang serbisyong medikal mula gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito,” he stressed.
As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported various infrastructure initiatives to help improve the delivery of essential services in the province, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings in Barotac Viejo, completion of various barangay health stations throughout Iloilo City and the construction of a multipurpose building in the Iloilo City Public Market.
Other significant initiatives he supported include the concreting or construction of roads in Badiangan, Banate, Carles, Dumangas, Lemery, Miag-ao, and Sara; completion of the barangay health stations in Leon; construction of a flood control system in Balasan; construction of a seawall in Banate; construction of the legislative building complete with facilities in San Dionisio; and improvement of the public parks in Due.
“Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, anumang pagsubok ang ating haharapin sa susunod na mga araw, patuloy akong magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” Go said.
