Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's Malasakit Team provided assistance to small business owners who were affected by Typhoon Paeng in Maasim, Sarangani on Thursday, December 14.

Held at the IP Center in Barangay Poblacion, the Malasakit Team distributed snacks, shirts, vitamins, and balls for basketball and volleyball to 15 small business owners. A select recipient also received a pair of shoes.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also distributed livelihood kits under its Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) program. Go earlier advocated for the implementation of this program to assist micro-entrepreneurs in recovering from various crises.

"Nais kong magpasalamat sa DTI sa inyong PPG program dahil hindi lamang ito nagbibigay ng tulong kundi pati na rin ng sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan sa pagnenegosyo para sa mga pamilyang bumabangon mula sa iba't-ibang krisis," Go said.

"Palaguin niyo ang inyong negosyo. Kapag lumago ang inyong negosyo, dalhin niyo po ang mga kita sa inyong mga pamilya… mas masarap sa pakiramdam kapag pinagpawisan at pinaghirapan niyo po ang inyong pagnenegosyo at napalago ninyo ito," Go said to beneficiaries of the program.

Meanwhile, Go continues to champion disaster resilience measures to improve preparedness and response to calamities and other crises. In the Senate, he filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 188, aiming to create a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). This bill emphasizes the need for a dedicated and coordinated approach to disaster management.

Aside from the DDR, Go also co-sponsored SBN 2451, known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers bill, initially proposed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada. This proposed legislation also draws inspiration from the Mandatory Evacuation Center bill previously proposed by Go, which seeks to create permanent and fully-equipped evacuation centers across the country.

"Isa po sa mga isinusulong ko ang pagkakaroon ng malinis at ligtas na evacuation center sa mga probinsya. Itong mga centers na ito ay dapat mayroong sapat na mga emergency packs, katulad ng blankets, tubig, gamot, flashlight, at ready na relief goods. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na palaging maging handa sa oras ng sakuna," stressed Go.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, urged individuals with health issues to seek assistance from the Malasakit Center located at Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City.

There are currently 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide and these have assisted over ten million indigent Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH). Republic Act No. 11463 was principally authored and sponsored by Go to ensure Filipinos have convenient access to medical assistance programs by concerned agencies, including Department of Social Welfare, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Go has continuously pushed for enhanced healthcare accessibility in the country by supporting the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide. This initiative aims to bring primary healthcare services closer to local communities.

The facility will offer an array of services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, which makes remote diagnosis and treatment of patients possible.

Lastly, the senator is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the recently enacted RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The said law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.

Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the concretion of the NHW junction Lebe-Tablao-Sipling-Banawag, NHW Luan-Ticulab-Café and Malalag-Batian provincial roads; construction of a multipurpose building for the public terminal; and construction of a lined canal in Brgy. Malalag in Maitum.