Advancing Filipino welfare through priority bills

Driven by a steadfast commitment to public service, we continue to push forward legislative agendas for our kababayans. On 9 February, we filed a new batch of priority bills before the Senate, addressing urgent concerns in labor protection, education, health services, migration governance and local development.

In labor protection, we filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1776, also known as the National Reintegration Bill, which seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and those whose employment contracts abroad have ended.

Another is SBN 1778, which seeks to grant survivorship benefits to the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of a deceased retired chairperson, commissioner, or labor arbiter of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

As chairman of the Senate Committees on Youth and on Sports, education and the youth sector remain our key priorities. We filed SBN 1780, or the Mandatory School Clinics Act, which proposes the establishment of school clinics in every public elementary and secondary school nationwide.

Complementing this are SBN 1781 and SBN 1805, which aim to establish Pintatagan National High School in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental and Barangay San Roque National High School in San Isidro, Davao Oriental, respectively.

Higher education and regional development are covered under SBN 1782, which proposes the conversion of extension campuses of Davao Oriental State University in Baganga, Cateel and Tarragona into regular campuses.

Health care access and infrastructure form a significant portion of this legislative package, as I serve as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health. SBN 1779, or the Nursing Home for Senior Citizens Act, seeks to establish and institutionalize a nursing home for senior citizens in every region of the country.

Meanwhile, SBN 1783 proposes the establishment of the Tigaon Mother and Child General Hospital in Camarines Sur under the Department of Health (DoH), providing maternal, neonatal and pediatric services. SBN 1784 proposes the creation of a new DoH hospital in Sogod, Southern Leyte, while SBN 1789 seeks to establish the Antipolo-Rizal Tertiary Hospital. Another health facility measure, SBN 1790, aims to convert the Mabini Community Hospital into a general hospital serving both residents and tourists.

Addressing concerns of public service personnel, SBN 1786 seeks to grant civil service eligibility to casual and contractual government employees who have rendered the prescribed length of continuous and satisfactory service.

Food security and sustainability are advanced through SBN 1787, or the Zero Food Waste Act, which proposes the establishment of a national program encouraging food producers, manufacturers, retailers and restaurants to recover and donate excess but safe food to communities and institutions in need.

In the area of small enterprise support, SBN 1777 seeks to institutionalize the Shared Services Facilities Project for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The bill aims to address gaps in the production value chain by creating common service centers that cater to industry-specific needs and promote cost efficiency through shared resources.

Also included is SBN 1788, or the Public Dentistry Salary Modification Act, which seeks to upgrade the salary grade of government-employed dentists. Under the proposal, the entry-level Dentist I position would be raised from Salary Grade 13 to Salary Grade 17 to address compensation disparities between public and private practice.

Rounding out the package are SBN 1785, which proposes amendments to the Special Education Fund to expand its allowable uses, and SBN 1791, the Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act. The latter seeks to update the Commonwealth Act of 1940, citing the need to align immigration systems with present-day challenges and improve service efficiency through updated structures and position upgrades.

Taken together, this new batch of bills reflects a focused and responsive legislative agenda. We remain committed to serving the Filipino people, especially the poor, the needy and the oppressed, with compassion and diligence.

Meanwhile, on 11 February, we personally aided the 33 fire victims in Barangay 580, Sampaloc, Manila.

On 13 February, we went to Barangay 76-A, Davao City, to also assist 199 Davaoeños displaced by the recent fire incident.

Meanwhile, our team was also on the ground and assisted various kababayans in need, as they immediately gave aid to fire victims in Barangay Punta Dumalag III, Davao City; Marilao, Bulacan; and Las Piñas City.

The team further extended assistance to victims of tropical storm “Basyang” in different towns in Surigao del Norte, such as Mainit, Claver, Bacuag, Tagana-an, Sison and San Francisco; Iligan City; and Gingoog City and Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.

Consequently, scholars from Seamen Center received additional assistance from Go’s team during their graduation in Sariaya, Quezon and displaced workers in Batangas City.

We will not stop supporting and making laws for the Filipinos dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos.