BONG GO SENDS RELIEF TO DISPLACED WORKERS IN KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO; PUSHES FOR MORE INITIATIVES TO BOOST LIVELIHOOD SECTOR

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go underscored the importance of providing more livelihood opportunities to the poor as his Malasakit Team coordinated with Vice Governor Arthur Pingoy and visited Koronadal City, South Cotabato, on Wednesday, February 21, and provided assistance to its displaced workers at the Provincial Capitol.

After completing the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment, the agency provided livelihood assistance to 197 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,” expressed Go in his 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.

Meanwhile, Go’s Malasakit Team distributed shirts, masks, vitamins, and snacks to all beneficiaries, and they also gave out shoes, a watch, and a cellular phone to select recipients.

Known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to vulnerable sectors, Go highlighted the need to protect the welfare of workers, particularly those in rural areas searching for better economic opportunities.

Senate Bill 420, introduced by Go, proposes establishing a mechanism designed to offer temporary employment chances to qualified members of economically disadvantaged families in rural areas. As per this bill, the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) would be set up within the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

If passed into law, the main objective of REAP would be to facilitate short-term employment for people identified as economically underprivileged, poor, displaced, or seasonal laborers.

Underscoring the need for more convenient access to quality health services, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography promoted the presence of a Malasakit Center located at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in the city and Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City.

Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go, mandates all Department of Health-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City to establish their centers to provide convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by the government.

“Ang target po ng Malasakit Center ay ma-cover ang inyong billing. Kaya huwag po kayong mahihiyang lumapit sa Malasakit Center dahil para po ‘yan sa inyo, mga kababayan kong Pilipino. At ngayon po, meron na po tayong 159 na Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo,” explained Go.

Go also mentioned that 15 Super Health Centers are funded in the province, bringing primary care closer to its constituents. Through the collective efforts of the DOH led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units (LGUs), and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the DOH for the construction of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022, 322 in 2023, and 132 in 2024.

To further improve public service delivery to its constituents, Go supported several infrastructure initiatives in the province. Among these projects are the construction of roads in Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Tantangan, and Surallah; the acquisition of a dump truck for the local government of Norala; construction of riverbank protection in Koronadal City and Tboli; installation of street lights in Koronadal City, Norala and Tupi; and the construction of a slaughterhouse in Tboli.

“Kaya patuloy akong tutulong sa abot ng aking makakaya dahil ang tangi kong bisyo ay magserbisyo sa inyong lahat,” Go said.