BONG GO SUPPORTS STRUGGLING RESIDENTS IN TBOLI, SOUTH COTABATO WHILE HE PUSHES FOR LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT FOR THE POOR

DURING his Malasakit Team’s relief activity for struggling sectors in Tboli, South Cotabato, on Monday, December 11, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, through a video message, advocated for enhanced support for the entrepreneurial sector and livelihood development.

In coordination with Councilor Swain de Groot, Go’s Malasakit Team held the relief activity at Barangay Poblacion gymnasium where 30 residents received snacks, shirts, vitamins, masks, and balls for basketball and volleyball. There were also select recipients of a mobile phone, shoes, and a watch.

Meanwhile, as part of an ongoing effort to alleviate the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable sectors, the government also extended livelihood grants.

Go highlighted the critical role that small businesses play in spurring economic recovery post-pandemic. He then urged concerned agencies to continue extending applicable programs and other interventions to boost local and informal industries so that they can continue to serve their communities.

Go authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11960, or the One Town, One Product Philippines Act. This law decentralizes economic opportunities by empowering each town and province to develop and promote its unique products. By doing so, it not only fosters community-led innovation but also bridges the urban-rural economic divide, providing small farmers with more avenues to market their produce.

“Importante ang suporta na ito para mapagaan ang pinapasan nila. Kung gusto nating mabilis na manumbalik ang sigla ng ekonomiya, kailangan nating tulungan ang mga maliliit na negosyante na makabangon din,” he continued.

“Sa ating muling pagbangon bilang isang mas matatag na bansa, siguraduhin nating walang maiiwan lalo na yung mga maliliit at ordinaryong mga Pilipino na kailangan ng tulong pangkabuhayan,” he said.

In 2020, the senator successfully pushed for the implementation of the Small Business Wage Subsidy program to help micro, small, and medium enterprises cope with the adverse impacts of COVID-19.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, informed the public that they may avail of medical assistance for their healthcare needs from any of the 159 Malasakit Centers, including those at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City and Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City.

RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored, seeks to make all government medical assistance programs more accessible by putting the relevant agencies under one roof. The agencies include DSWD, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

In a bid to bring government services closer to Filipinos, Go also pushed for necessary support for the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide.

Super Health Centers offer health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, 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.

Through the collective efforts of DOH and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under DOH for the construction of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. The DOH, as the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where these Super Health Centers will be established.

Super Health Centers will also be established in Banga, Lake Sebu, Surallah, Tampakan, and Tboli towns.

Moreover, Go highlighted the recent passage of RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate. The said law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.

“It’s a multi-year plan. Halimbawa, kung may problema sa heart, kidney, lung, neonatal, mental, ito pong mga ortho sa mga may karamdaman sa buto, o kahit cancer… ilalagay na po sa lahat ng DOH regional hospital sa buong Pilipinas ang mga specialty services na ito para ilapit po natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan,” explained Go.

Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported 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.