BONG GO VISITS PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN TO HELP IN THE RECOVERY AND REBUILDING EFFORTS OF FIRE VICTIMS

ON Wednesday, April 24, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go supported recovery efforts for 373 families previously affected by a devastating fire in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, ensuring the distribution of necessary aid for them to rebuild their homes.

Through Go’s personal efforts, the victims received grocery packs, snacks, masks, vitamins, shirts, and balls for volleyball and basketball. There were also select recipients of bicycles, shoes, watches, and mobile phones.

Held at Mendoza Park, Amphitheater, Puerto Princesa City, the National Housing Authority (NHA) also extended emergency housing assistance to qualified beneficiaries through its collaboration with the LGU and Go’s office.

Through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), the NHA provides financial aid to beneficiaries who have suffered from fires or other disasters, assisting them in purchasing materials needed to rebuild their homes.

Senator Go highlighted the importance of the EHAP, an initiative he advocated for before and continues to support to ensure that disaster victims get the support needed from government to reconstruct their homes and lives promptly.

“Sinikap din natin na mabigyan sila ng National Housing Authority ng ayuda pambili ng housing materials tulad ng pako, yero at iba pa upang maisaayos muli ang kanilang mga tirahan,” Go highlighted.

“Itong EHAP program, isinulong ko ito noon at patuloy na sinusuportahang maimplementa ngayon upang mas marami pang mga biktima ng sakuna ang makapagpatayo ng maayos na bahay at makabangon muli mula sa trahedya,” he added.

Go also acknowledged the efforts of local officials in Puerto Princesa City, led by Mayor Lucillio Bayron. He commended them for their dedication to protecting and supporting their constituents during such challenging times.

The collaboration between national agencies and local government units underscored a unified approach to disaster response and community rebuilding, Go underscored.

Go also continues to push for his filed bill, Senate Bill No. 192, which seeks to institutionalize the Rental Housing Subsidy Program. Under the proposed measure, a housing and social protection program will be developed to provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies provided by the government if enacted into law.

Meanwhile, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also supported street lighting projects in the city.

Furthermore, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also supported the construction of a Super Health Center in the city as part of his efforts to bring the primary healthcare services closer to communities, particularly in terms of medical consultations and early disease detection.

Through the collective efforts of Senator Go, the Department of Health led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for the construction of more than 700 Super Health Centers across the country, including 13 in Palawan. Go personally attended the groundbreaking of the one in Quezon town earlier that day.

The senator also encouraged those with health concerns to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers located at Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital in Culion, and Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke’s Point.

Under Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate, DOH-run hospitals and other qualified public hospitals can have their own Malasakit Centers to provide faster and more convenient access to medical assistance, particularly for poor and indigent patients.

Since the program was initiated in 2018, there have been 163 operational centers in the country. According to DOH, more than ten million Filipinos have benefitted from the Malasakit Centers.

“Alam nyo bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, pwera diyan sa Malasakit Center ako’y nagmamalasakit sa ating kapwa Pilipino, lalung-lalo na po sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan na wala pong matakbuhan, walang malapitan,” Go cited in a radio interview on the same day.

“Iyan po ang pakiusap ko parati sa Malasakit Centers, huwag pong pabayaan ang mga kababayan nating mahihirap, yung hopeless and helpless ones na wala pong matakbuhan kung di tayong nasa gobyerno. Tulungan po natin sila. Nalulungkot ako kapag ayaw magpa-checkup, ayaw magpaospital dahil sa kahirapan. Tulungan po natin yung mga kababayan nating mahihirap. Inyo po yan, sa Pilipino po yang Malasakit Center. Ang kwalipikasyon niyan, basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center,” Go stressed.

Lastly, Go mentioned that there are specialty centers that are focused on Cardiovascular Care, Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, Lung Care and Eye Care in Ospital ng Palawan. There is also one that focuses in eye care at Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital.

Go highlighted the passage of RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate. This law, signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on August 24, marks a substantial stride in bringing specialized medical care closer to all regions

On the same day, Go also personally visited and expressed support to Air Force troops stationed in the city. He also attended the Surigao del Norte Chapter’s Philippine Councilors’ League and Vice Mayors’ League at the Princesa Garden Island Hotel.

“Ako naman ay patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya dahil yan po ang pinangako ko sa inyo bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, ang pagserbisyuhan kayo mga kababayan ko. Bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” he concluded.

He then flew to Davao City where he attended the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives Inc (PLGPMI) 25th Anniversary and Annual General Assembly Opening Ceremony held at SMX Lanang.