Gives additional support to fire victims he aided in 2019

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go visited Orion, Bataan, where he joined a team from the National Housing Authority to attend the turnover of housing units to fire victims at 1Bataan Village Phase 1 in Brgy. Daang Pare.

Go previously visited and personally provided assistance to the said victims of a fire incident back in 2019.

“Ilan sa mga benepisyaryo ng pabahay na ito ay mga biktima ng sunog na nauna nang natulungan ng aking opisina noong taong 2019. Binalikan natin sila ngayon upang kamustahin at nakakatuwa naman na ang ilan sa kanila ay may sariling maayos na tirahan na,” Go said.

In his speech, the senator commended the local government of Orion, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development headed by Secretary Jerry Acuzar, and the National Housing Authority for their collective efforts of allocating housing units to a total of 216 beneficiaries who lost their homes.

“Ito na ho ‘yung pagkakataon ninyo na makapagserbisyo sa bayan… yung iiwan n’yo pong tulong, ‘yung legasiya sa mga mahihirap po ay hindi po malilimutan ng ating mga kababayan,” said Go to fellow officials.

“Hindi lang po dito sa Bataan kung hindi sa buong bansa. Unahin n’yo po ‘yung mga mahihirap. Susuporta po ako doon sa programang Pambansang Pabahay,” he added.

To address the need for quality yet affordable housing nationwide, Go renewed his call for the passage of his proposed measures, Senate Bill Nos. 192 and 426.

SBN 192, otherwise known as the Rental Housing Subsidy Program, aims to provide adequate, sustainable and habitable shelter for Filipinos affected by disasters and other crisis situations.

Under the proposed measure, a housing and social protection program will also be developed to provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies provided by the government.

On the other hand, SBN 426 or the proposed National Housing Development, Production and Financing (NHDPF) Program seeks to increase housing production by forging partnerships among relevant stakeholders to address the social housing demands of Filipino families.

As proposed, the bill shall generate and mobilize funds to guarantee the development of a sustainable, accessible, and affordable housing financing system for the country’s informal settlers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and its attached key shelter agencies, shall intensify the implementation of the vital components of the NHDPF program.

“Medyo ambitious itong bills na ito pero sana pagdating ng panahon, sana magkaroon ng oportunidad na magkaroon ng sariling bahay ang bawat isa o bawat Pilipino lalo na ang mga mahihirap. Sila ang unahin natin,” Go previously expressed.

“Hangarin natin na wala nang maging squatter sa sarili nilang bayan,” he added.

Following the activity, Go also had the chance to inspect one of the housing units. During the inspection, Go said that the government can accomplish many things for its people, especially the poor, if it works as a united unit.

“Importante komportable po ang mga pamilya. Importante makapagpahinga sila. Meron silang kainan, comfort room. Nakakatuwa after three years after masunugan sila, sa pagsisikap ng ating opisyales headed by Governor Joet (Garcia), Congressman Abet Garcia and of course ang ating developer,” said Go.

“Basta nagtutulungan po ang gobyerno, naisasakatuparan po ang mga ganitong proyektong nakakatulong sa mga mahihirap,” he added.

Go and his team then provided the beneficiaries with additional aid, such as grocery packs, masks, vitamins, meals and shirts. They also gave away cellular phones, bicycles, shoes, and balls for volleyball and basketball to select individuals.

Moreover, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided additional financial assistance to the beneficiaries under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go offered further help to those who need medical assistance as he encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Centers in the province located at Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital and Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga City.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that provides convenient access to the medical assistance programs of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. To date, there are 154 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

“Mahirap magkasakit lalo na kung ikaw ay mahirap at hindi alam kung saan kukunin ang pambayad sa ospital at pambili ng gamot,” noted Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

Furthermore, he shared that Super Health Centers will be available in Dinalupihan and Mariveles. In 2023, Super Health Centers will also be established in Bagac, Hermosa, Morong, Orani, and Samal.

Super Health Centers are medium versions of polyclinics and are bigger than rural health units, which offer basic services such as out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit, among others.

Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

The senator, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several other projects, including the construction of a drainage canal in Abucay and Dinalupihan; the construction of Orani District Hospital with 150-bed capacity; construction of multipurpose buildings in Bagac, Balanga City, Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Limay, Orion and Pilar; acquisition of ambulance units in Pilar and Samal; and construction of a slaughterhouse in Hermosa.

“Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang po tayo. Ipagpatuloy lang po natin ang pagbabayanihan dahil ito po ang ating kinakailangan sa ngayon. Hindi po kayo pababayaan ng gobyerno at sabay-sabay po tayo aahon mula sa pandemyang ito,” reassured Go.

On the same day, Go witnessed the groundbreaking of the Oval Sports Facility and inspected an evacuation center and barangay hall in Limay, Bataan where he also aided some of the residents.

He also conducted an inspection of the Limay viewdeck.

Go then headed to Mariveles where he attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Super Health Center in the said town. He likewise aided residents in Mariveles.