WHILE CELEBRATING ITS KISI-KISI FESTIVAL, BONG GO VISITS ILOG TOWN IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL TO ALSO AID DISPLACED WORKERS

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go personally extended help to displaced workers of Ilog, Negros Occidental, while also celebrating the festivities of the Kisi-Kisi Festival on Saturday, March 23.

Starting his remarks, Go took the opportunity to express his gratitude towards the local government, led by Congressman Mercedes “Cheding” Alvarez, Mayor John Paul Alvarez, and Vice Mayor Genaro Rafael Alvarez, as well as Governor Eugenio “Bong” Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, among others, for their collective efforts to the town’s advancement.

“Salamat po Mayor, Congresswoman sa mga tulong natin dito sa mga kababayan natin, lalo na sa mga nawalan ng trabaho. Dahil alam n’yo, ang Ilog po, ito po yung lugar na tinamaan din po ng bagyo noong nakaraang dalawang taon. At tinamaan tayo lahat ng pandemya. Magtulungan po tayo na maiahon natin, maka-recover po yung ating mga kababayan. Magtulungan lang po tayo,” Go urged in an interview.

Held at the municipal gymnasium, Go gave away grocery packs, meals, vitamins, masks, and shirts to 500 displaced workers. Select recipients also received bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball.

“Basta ako, magseserbisyo ako para sa Pilipino. Hindi po ako politiko na mangangako, gagawin ko lang po ang aking trabaho… At gagawin ko po ang aking makakaya para makatulong sa kapwa,” affirmed Go, who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service for the poor and vulnerable sectors.

“Ang paniniwala ko ang pagsiserbisyo sa tao, serbisyo po yan sa Diyos. Ito ‘yung panahon na maibalik natin sa ating Panginoon yung ginawa niyang sakripisyo. Tayo naman po ang magsasakripisyo sa pagsiserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” Go explained, emphasizing the relevance of service amid the observance of Holy Week.

Meanwhile, through Go’s initiative, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted an orientation for the qualified beneficiaries for its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

“Sa pamamagitan ng programa na ito, ang gobyerno ay tumutulong sa mga manggagawang naapektuhan ng krisis at nakapagbibigay ng pansamantalang trabaho sa kanila,” Go earlier said as he commended the DOLE for effectively implementing various assistance programs, such as TUPAD, which has significantly contributed to supporting individuals whose jobs have been impacted by crises.

In alignment with his advocacy for bolstering support mechanisms for vulnerable communities, Senator Go recently filed Senate Bill No. 420, which supports the creation of a framework dedicated to offering employment opportunities to eligible individuals hailing from underprivileged rural households. If enacted into law, the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) would be established and fall under DOLE’s purview. The primary objective of REAP is to furnish temporary employment avenues for individuals meeting specific criteria, including economic hardship, poverty, displacement, or reliance on seasonal employment.

Apart from the assistance provided to indigents of the town, Go also earlier supported several road improvement projects in Ilog as part of his advocacy as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

Meanwhile, the senator, as head of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, likewise offered to help those needing medical care. He encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Center at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City, where they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government.

The Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. There are now 161 Malasakit Centers established nationwide, which have assisted more than ten million underprivileged Filipinos according to DOH data.

Meanwhile, through the collective efforts of Go, the DOH 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, including 31 in Negros Occidental, to improve access to primary care, medical consultations and early disease detection in grassroots communities.

In his visit to Ilog, Go also joined the Talaba Festival which is part of the week-long Kisi-Kisi festival. He then visited Himamaylan City to assist more displaced workers and inspect the Super Health Center with Mayor Raymond Tiongson and Vice Mayor Genaro Rafael Alvarez.

The next day, Go also visited Victorias City and Bacolod City to inspect their respective Super Health Centers and assist more displaced workers before participating in the PBA All Star weekend festivities help in Bacolod City.