SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Team, in coordination with the office of Governor Fredenil “Oto” Castro, organized relief operations for hundreds of displaced workers from Roxas City and Pilar, Capiz on Monday, December 11.
The aid activities were held at the Governor’s Hall of the Capiz Provincial Capitol in Roxas City, and the municipal gymnasium in Pilar. During these events, Go’s Malasakit Team distributed snacks, shirts, masks, and vitamins to 763 individuals. Additionally, they gave away pairs of shoes to select recipients.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted an orientation to qualified recipients for possible temporary employment, as part of DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.
“Sa panahon ngayon, patuloy lang po ang ating pagbabayanihan, mga kababayan ko. Kami po sa gobyerno ay patuloy na gagawa ng mga paraan upang mabalik ang sigla ng ating ekonomiya,” said Go in a video message.
“Asahan niyo po na ako naman ay patuloy niyong magiging kasangga sa Senado at magseserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he said.
To help local businesses, Go has been pushing for stronger government efforts to boost micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The senator is one of the authors and co-sponsors of Republic Act 11960, or the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act.
The OTOP Philippines Program represents a governmental stimulus strategically crafted to nurture the expansion of MSMEs nationwide. The program strongly emphasizes harnessing local resources while concurrently safeguarding the rich tapestry of cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, Go has filed SBN 420, which aims to establish a system for providing short-term employment to eligible individuals from underprivileged households in rural regions. Within the framework of this proposed measure, a program called the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) would be created under DOLE.
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.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, highlighted the presence of Malasakit Centers at Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Roxas City, which aims to promote greater access to medical assistance among poor Filipinos.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to assist particularly poor and indigent patients in reducing their hospital bills to the lowest possible amount.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. There are now 159 operational centers that have helped more than ten million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH.
Meanwhile, Go shared that there will also be Super Health Centers across the country. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.
Services offered in the Super Health Centers will include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine.
The senator also emphasized the significance of the recently passed RA 11959. As the principal sponsor and one of its authors, the Regional Specialty Centers Act mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals to bring specialized medical care closer to communities.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, extended support to several projects in the province, such as the construction of the five-story RMPH Building and a multi-purpose building in Roxas City and Pontevedra, respectively. He also supported the construction of several river control structures, road rehabilitation along Iloilo East Coast to Capiz Road, and road concretion along Maayon to Palagian Provincial Road.
Moreover, the senator also supported the rehabilitation of roads in Jamindan; improvement of drainage canal and conversion of a multi-purpose building to a quarantine facility in Tapaz; acquisition of an ambulance for the local government of Dumarao; and road improvements in Ma-ayon, Mambusao, Panay, Pilar and Sapian.
