Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reaffirmed his support for the well-being of Filipino women and acknowledged their essential role in the growth of the nation in line with the observance of National Women’s Month this March.

In an interview after personally assisting residents in Arayat, Pampanga last Thursday, Go paid tribute to all women for their nurturing care and selflessness.

The senator emphasized that half of the country’s population are women and that their contributions to the country are significant, from fighting for women’s rights to driving economic growth and development.

He expressed his support for programs and policies that would provide a better life for women. These include Republic Act 11861 which amended RA 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000 to grant additional benefits to solo parents, most of whom are women. Go is one of the authors and co-sponsors of the said measure.

According to the law, the government should develop a comprehensive program called Package of Social Protection Services for solo parents and their children.

Various government agencies are required to be involved in this program to carry out services and advocate for solo parents, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and Department of Education, to name a few.

Some of the benefits that solo parents will now enjoy include additional financial assistance for those earning minimum wage and below; 10 percent discount on basic necessities such as food and micronutrient supplements, diapers, and duly prescribed medicines for solo parents earning less than P250,000 annually; and prioritization in housing and livelihood programs from the government, among others.

Meanwhile, Go’s staff visited Cebu City on Wednesday, March 8 to hand out assistance to fire-hit communities in Barangays Sudlon 2, Labangon and Guadalupe.

In observance of the Fire Prevention Month, Go reassured that the government remains focused on strengthening the country’s fire prevention efforts through RA 11589, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, which he primarily authored and co-sponsored.

The law mandates the bureau to undergo a 10-year modernization program to improve the BFP’s capabilities in dealing with fire-related incidents, which includes the provision of specialized trainings, expansion of manpower, and acquisition of new advanced fire equipment, among others.