Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his ongoing commitment to improving housing conditions for Filipinos, particularly those displaced by natural and man-made disasters, during the emergency housing assistance turnover conducted by the National Housing Authority (NHA) to fire victims in his hometown Davao City, on Friday, July 14.
Go first underscored the significance of the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) run by the NHA, which provides support to families who have lost their homes. The program extends financial assistance for building materials to expedite their rebuilding and recovery process.
“Nitong July 14, nagbigay tayo ng dagdag na tulong sa mga biktima ng sunog noon mula sa iba’t ibang barangay. Personal nating sinaksihan ang ipinamahaging emergency housing assistance ng National Housing Authority sa mga benepisyaryo, sa pakikipagtulungan kasama ang tanggapan nina Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte at NHA Regional Manager ng Davao Region na si Engr Clemente Dayot,” Go shared.
“Itong programang EHAP, (nasimulan) panahon pa ni dating Presidente Duterte. Isa ako sa nagsulong nito noon. Ngayon, ito ay aking pinapondohan para maipagpatuloy, para may maibili ng housing materials ang mga nasunugan,” he explained further.
Aside from the assistance provided by NHA to the beneficiaries during the relief activity at Rizal Park, Go and his team also distributed grocery packs, masks and snacks to 1,272 recovering fire victims. Shoes, bicycles, and cellular phones were also given to several recipients.
“Mula sa iba’t ibang barangay ito na inikot ng aming opisina noon at kayo ‘yung napili ngayon na bibigyan ng assistance mula sa EHAP program. ‘Yung matatanggap ninyo ngayon, ibili ninyo ng housing materials o ano pa man na makakatulong sa pagbangon ninyo,” he said.
Recounting his experiences with fire and disaster victims across the country, Go expressed his commitment to help address the housing needs of affected households to promote resilience and rebuild communities in the face of adversity.
“Sa pag-iikot ko ng bansa, nakita ko po kung gaano kahirap sa ating mga kababayang nasunugan o tinamaan ng bagyo o kaya naman pagputok ng bulkan ang makakuha ulit ng matitirhan,” said Go
“Napakaimportante na magkaroon sila ng maayos at ligtas na tirahan upang tuluyang makabangon muli,” he added.
As a legislator, Go is actively advocating for the passage of Senate Bill No. 192, which aims to establish the Rental Housing Subsidy Program as a means of institutionalizing housing and social protection initiatives. This program intends to provide disaster victims with improved and affordable access to the formal housing market by offering rental subsidies.