SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go urged displaced workers and aspiring business owners to avail of the government’s small and medium enterprise programs during a joint relief effort with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other government agencies in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.

Go encouraged qualified daily wage earners who are struggling due to the adverse socio economic impacts of COVID-19 to avail of various applicable government programs such as the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the DSWD so they can help revitalize the economy and support their families.

“Hindi lahat ay maaari makapaghanap ng trabaho, lalo na bumabalik pa lang ang sigla ng ekonomiya. Layunin ng SLP na mabigyan ng kaukulang suporta upang makapagsimula at magkaroon ng sariling hanapbuhay ang mga kababayan nating mahirap,” Go explained in a video message.

“Suportahan natin ang mga kababayan nating may kasanayan sa pagnenegosyo. Turuan at bigyan natin sila ng kapital. Kung magagawa natin ito, mabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong kumita para sa kanilang pamilya at mag-contribute sa ating bansa,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Go’s personnel distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 153 small business vendors at the Ozamiz City School of Arts and Trades in Barangay Maningcol.

They gave select recipients new pairs of shoes so they can work in comfort or bicycles to ease their livelihood activities. Another recipient received a computer tablet to help his children in their studies under the blended learning approach.

Representatives from the DSWD also distributed financial assistance through its SLP. The Department of Health handed out hygiene kits while the Department of Agriculture gave away vegetable seedlings.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in turn, assessed potential beneficiaries in need of skills training. The Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry likewise committed to extend further aid based on their existing assistance programs.

“Magtulungan po tayo upang maibangon ang ating kabuhayan. Hindi po kayo pababayaan ng gobyerno. May mga programa tayo para maiangat ang inyong pamumuhay,” he said.

Go also offered medical assistance to beneficiaries with medical concerns and informed them that they may conveniently avail of government aid at the Malasakit Center at the Mayor Hilario A. Ramiro, Sr. Medical Center in the said city.

The previous day, July 21, his personnel also extended aid to 1,313 other vendors at the Tudela Sports Complex and Northern Mindanao State College. All activities were held in batches and strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

Senator Go also extended his assistance to hundreds of micro-entrepreneurs in Parañaque City on July 22 and 23.

Through his video message, he encouraged the beneficiaries with health concerns, particularly the poor and indigent, to conveniently avail of the medical assistance offered through the Malasakit Centers program.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 that primarily aims to help indigent patients lower their medical bills.

Go, then, reminded the beneficiaries to stay vigilant and strictly comply with health preventive measures as there are reported local transmission cases of the more contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.

“Huwag tayong maging kumpiyansa. Kailangan namin ni Pangulong Duterte ang tulong ng bawat Pilipino. Kailangan po dito disiplinado tayo at huwag tayong maging kumpiyansa hangga’t hindi natin nakakamtan ang population protection at herd immunity,” said Go.

“Kung mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga anak, mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga pamilya, pakiusap lang po sa inyo, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna, huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna,” he reminded.

Conducted at the ROMVI Gymnasium in Barangay Moonwalk, Go’s staff implemented strict safety and health protocols to safeguard the 500 micro-entrepreneurs who received meals, masks, face shields, vitamins, and other forms of aid from his office.