HELPING COMMUNITIES OVERCOME ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, BONG GO VISITS LAMBUNAO TOWN IN ILOILO TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO DISPLACED WORKERS

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go visited Lambunao, Iloilo, on Friday, March 22, to provide aid and support to displaced workers after the groundbreaking of a Super Health Center in the town. He underscored the urgent need for enhanced governmental support for indigents, particularly those burdened by economic challenges.

In his speech during the activity at the municipal gymnasium, Go emphasized the significance of providing necessary livelihood assistance to bolster the well-being of individuals facing hardships. The senator accentuated the critical role of the government in mitigating the economic fallout caused by the pandemic and other crisis situations on the country’s most vulnerable sectors.

“Sa panahon ngayon, patuloy lang po ang ating pagbabayanihan, mga kababayan ko. Kami po sa gobyerno ay patuloy na gagawa ng mga paraan upang mabalik ang sigla ng ating ekonomiya,” Go remarked.

Go and his Malasakit Team distributed grocery packs, snacks, vitamins, masks, and shirts to 500 displaced workers. There were also select recipients of a bicycle, shoes, mobile phones, watches, and basketball and volleyball balls.

In line with his advocacy for more robust support mechanisms for the poor, Senator Go filed Senate Bill No. 420 to foster employment opportunities for low-income rural households. The proposed legislation aims to institutionalize the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) that seeks to provide temporary employment opportunities for displaced workers in rural areas. REAP is envisioned to serve as a vital lifeline for eligible members of rural communities, offering them support toward economic stability.

During the event, representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment also conducted an orientation session for the qualified beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. This initiative is part of a broader effort to provide support to displaced workers, ensuring they receive the necessary guidance and assistance to navigate their way to employment.

“Mga kababayan ko nandito po kami ngayon para tumulong. Nandito po ang ating DOLE para sa programang TUPAD. Kami po ang isa sa nagsulong ng programang TUPAD ng DOLE para bigyan kayo ng pansamantalang trabaho. Palakpakan naman natin ang ating mga empleyado ng DOLE,” expressed Go.

Expressing his gratitude, Senator Go lauded the local government of Lambunao for their unwavering dedication to assisting their constituents, including Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor, Jr., Vice Governor Christine Garin, Congressman Lorenz Defensor, Mayor Reynor Gonzales, and Vice Mayor Arvin Losaria, among others.

On the same day, Go’s Malasakit Team was in Iloilo City to bring additional aid to fire victims and indigents. The senator also attended the Lady Local Legislators League of the Philippines National Summit in Iloilo City that evening.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered additional help to Ilonggos in need of medical assistance through the Malasakit Centers in the province.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. According to the Department of Health, 161 operational centers have helped more than ten million Filipinos nationwide so far.

Malasakit Centers in Iloilo City are located at West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Medical Center. Other Malasakit Centers in the province are at Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital in Santa Barbara.

The senator also highlighted that he continues to support the establishment of Super Health Centers across the country, which shall improve the healthcare system and bring primary care, consultations, and early disease detection closer to communities.

Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide including 27 in Iloilo province with one in Lambunao.

Lastly, Go emphasized the need to bring specialized medical services closer to all regions. That is why he served as the principal sponsor and one of the authors of RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.

In the Western Visayas Medical Center, there are existing specialty centers, such as cardiovascular care, lung care, neo natal care, and mental health. The facility is also set to have orthopedic care, physician rehabilitation medicine, trauma care, cancer care, geriatric care, eye care, and toxicology care. Meanwhile, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital also plan to have toxicology care.

To further help create more opportunities for the province, Go supported various projects, including the construction of multipurpose buildings in Barotac Viejo, the completion of various barangay health stations throughout Iloilo City, and the construction of a multipurpose building in the Iloilo City Public Market.

Other significant initiatives he supported include the concreting or construction of roads in Badiangan, Banate, Carles, Dumangas, Lemery, Miag-ao, and Sara; completion of the barangay health stations in Leon; construction of a flood control system in Balasan; construction of a seawall in Banate; construction of the legislative building complete with facilities in San Dionisio; and improvement of the public parks in Dueñas.

“Tandaan natin, minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Ako ang inyong Senator kuya Bong Go, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po yan sa Diyos,” added Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service for the poor.