BONG GO SUPPORTS STRENGTHENING OF NTF-ELCAC PROGRAMS AS HIS MALASAKIT TEAM PROVIDES AID TO RESIDENTS OF MAPASAN, NORTHERN SAMAR

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense, emphasized the critical need to enhance initiatives such as the Balik-Loob Program under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), as he deployed his Malasakit Team to support residents in Mapanas, Northern Samar on Thursday, August 30.

“Ako naman po bilang vice chairman ng Committee on National Defense, ang apela ko sa Executive Branch na kailangan po nating ma-strengthen ‘yung mga programa tulad ng Balik-Loob program ng gobyerno para maengganyo po ang mga rebelde na magbalik-loob po sa gobyerno,” Go stated in a video message.

“Ako naman ayoko po ‘yung Pilipino ay nakikipagpatayan sa kapwa Pilipino. Kapag may sundalong namamatay, nauulila po ang mga anak. Kapag may rebeldeng namamatay, kawawa rin ang pamilya. Sobrang sakit po sa dibdib,” he added.

Go argued that by bolstering the NTF-ELCAC, development in affected areas can be accelerated, thereby reducing poverty and diminishing the influence of rebel groups. This effort is directed at motivating insurgents to return to mainstream society, consequently avoiding instances of internal strife among Filipinos.

In his efforts to support conflict-affected communities, Go’s Malasakit Team provided grocery packs, snacks, shirts, basketballs, and volleyballs to 200 families gathered at Mapanas Municipal Grounds. Toys were also given to the children present.

Through the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP), the Office of Civil Defense Region 8, headed by Regional Director PBGen. Reynaldo Pawid led a Serbisyo Caravan that gave various services to the residents, such as medical and legal aid, free haircuts, distribution of school supplies, and other necessities.

The RCSP is a program that aims to address the issues identified by the communities themselves through the provision of government projects while ensuring sustainable development and promoting peace.

As the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Go also encouraged the public to utilize the services of nearby Malasakit Centers, specifically the one at Northern Samar Provincial Hospital in Catarman, should they require medical assistance.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies work hand-in-hand to help indigent patients reduce their hospital bills to the lowest amount possible. Go principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, which successfully institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. There are 166 Malasakit Centers, which have helped around ten million Filipinos nationwide.

“Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” Mr. Malasakit concluded.