SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go dispatched his Malasakit Team to provide additional assistance to disaster victims in Tarlac City, on Friday, November 22, to extend much-needed support and help them rebuild.
“Sa mga nasalanta, huwag ho kayong mag-alala. Sabi ko nga sa inyo noon, ang gamit ay nabibili, ang pera ay kikitain, subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Pangalagaan at ingatan po natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat isa,” Go said.
Go’s Malasakit Team, in coordination with the local government of Tarlac City, collaborated with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development so that the beneficiaries could avail of financial support through the Integrated Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP). This program, which Go advocated for, provides a one-time emergency shelter support (ESS) for households with totally damaged houses to help them rebuild.
“Sa ilalim ng programang ito na ating isinulong, mabibigyan ang mga benepisyaryo ng tulong para pambili ng materyales na pampatayo muli ng kanilang mga nasirang bahay,” Go explained.
During the activity held at Tarlac City Hall, Go’s Malasakit Team distributed snacks, shirts, vitamins, basketballs, and volleyballs to 68 beneficiaries. Additionally, there were also select recipients of shoes for men and women.
“Mga kababayan ko, huwag kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Trabaho ko po ang tumulong sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya… kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na magserbisyo sa inyong lahat,” he expressed.
Additionally, Go continues to push for his filed Senate Bill No. 192, which seeks to institutionalize a Rental Housing Subsidy Program. Under the proposed measure, a housing and social protection program will be developed to provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies from the government, if enacted into law.
Furthermore, Go highlighted SBN 2451, known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which he co-sponsored and principally authored. This proposed legislation, which passed the third reading in the Senate, underscores the necessity of establishing mandatory evacuation centers in provinces and municipalities if enacted into law.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and a health reform crusader, Senator Go also encouraged the residents to take advantage of the Malasakit Center located at Tarlac Provincial Hospital.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop designed to streamline medical assistance programs from various government agencies, ensuring that Filipinos can access medical assistance to overcome the financial burden of healthcare costs.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
As of now, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The Department of Health reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 15 million Filipinos.
“Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit na ang tanging bisyo ay magserbisyo, uunahin ko palagi ang kapakanan at buhay ng aking kapwa Pilipino. Minsan lang tayong dadaan sa mundong ito. Kaya anumang kabutihan at tulong ang puwede nating ibigay sa kapwa ay gawin na natin ngayon,” Go ended.
