Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, in coordination with Mayor Jesus Dureza, provided assistance to residents of Hagonoy, Davao del Sur on Thursday, 23 November.
Go's outreach staff joined a distribution activity at the Hagonoy municipal grounds and provided snacks, masks and vitamins to 207 displaced workers. They also gave away shirts, balls for basketball and volleyball, a mobile phone and shoes to select recipients.
The beneficiaries also qualified for livelihood support from the Department of Labor and Employment after completing DOLE's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers program.
"Patuloy po tayong magtulungan upang mas mapabuti pa ang kalagayan ng ating mga disadvantaged at displaced workers. Magkasama tayo sa layuning ito na makabuo ng mas maginhawa at mas matatag na lipunan para sa lahat ng Pilipino," he said.
To ensure that those who reside in rural areas lacking job opportunities are taken care of, Go also filed Senate Bill No. 420, which seeks to offer temporary employment to eligible members of low-income rural households who are ready to perform unskilled physical labor for a period of time if enacted into law.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also offered additional assistance to those in need of hospital care as he encouraged them to seek the services of the nearby Malasakit Centers at the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in the city or the Southern Philippines Medical Center in nearby Davao City.
Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 and was successful in institutionalizing the program through Republic Act 11463, which he principally sponsored and authored in 2019. There are now 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide, which have assisted over ten million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health.
Go remains steadfast in his commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility at the community level. In coordination with DOH and LGUs, he and his fellow legislators have rallied behind the establishment of numerous Super Health Centers across the country.
In Davao del Sur, these Super Health Centers will be strategically situated in key areas, including Digos City, Matanao, Kiblawan and Hagonoy, ensuring that vital healthcare services reach the grassroots population.
"Mga kababayan tandaan natin, minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito," said Go.
"Ako po ang inyong Senador Kuya Bong Go, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Dahil ako'y naniniwala na ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo po 'yan sa Diyos," he concluded.
To help create more economic opportunities in the province, Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Digos City, Bansalan, Hagonoy, Magsaysay, Malalag, Padada and Sulop; and the development of a bat cave in Matanao.