SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go continuously expressed the need for livelihood support from the government especially for the poor and vulnerable sectors as he dispatched his Malasakit Team to aid struggling workers in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

In partnership with Mayor Javi Benitez, Vice Mayor Jun Bantug, Councilor Derek Palanca, and the local government, Go’s Malasakit Team joined the initiative at Victorias City Coliseum, where 500 displaced workers received shirts, sockets, and balls for basketball and volleyball from Go.

Furthermore, the beneficiaries received livelihood support through Go’s initiative after completing the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

“Nais kong magpasalamat sa DOLE para sa kanilang TUPAD program. Ito ay malaking tulong para sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa panahon ng mga pagsubok na ating kinakaharap,” Go said in a video message.

“Ang TUPAD program ay nagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa ating mga kababayan na mabigyan ng pansamantalang trabaho na makakatulong din sa komunidad. Ito ay isang halimbawa ng pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa ng gobyerno at ng ating mga mamamayan para malampasan ang mga pagsubok na kinakaharap natin,” he cited.

Go has filed Senate Bill No. 420 to institutionalize a short-term employment program for eligible individuals from underprivileged households. Within the framework of this proposed measure, a program called the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) would be created.

If enacted into law, the primary objective of REAP is to offer temporary employment opportunities to individuals who meet the criteria of being economically disadvantaged, impoverished, displaced, or seasonal workers.

As part of his advocacy to strengthen the country’s health sector, Go, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, encouraged the public to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

The Malasakit Centers program was later institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go when he became senator in 2019.

Currently, there are 164 operational malasakit centers nationwide and have helped more than ten million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Moreover, through the collective efforts of the DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated to construct over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide to bring primary care, medical consultations, and early disease detection services closer to communities. 31 Super Health Centers are funded in the province alone.

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