SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go called for more government support to the entrepreneurial sector as he highlighted the critical role that small businesses play in spurring economic recovery amid the pandemic.

His team responded to the needs of micro-entrepreneurs in Aglipay and Saguday, Quirino on Saturday, August 14.

In a video message, Go explained that the economy cannot fully recover without the help of micro-entrepreneurs. He urged concerned agencies to extend applicable programs and other interventions to boost local and informal industries so that they can continue to serve their communities.

“Malaking bahagi ng ekonomiya ang mga (micro, small at medium enterprises). Habang tumatagal ang COVID-19 situation sa bansa, kailangang suportahan ng gobyerno ang kanilang kapakanan para buhayin ang mga maliliit na negosyo at maiahon ang mga empleyado mula sa krisis na ito,” said Go.

“Importante ang suporta na ito para mapagaan ang pinapasan nila. Kung gusto nating mabilis na manumbalik ang sigla ng ekonomiya, kailangan nating tulungan ang mga maliliit na negosyante na makabangon din,” he continued.

“Sa ating muling pagbangon bilang isang mas matatag na bansa, siguraduhin nating walang maiiwan lalo na yung mga maliliit at ordinaryong mga Pilipino na kailangan ng tulong pang kabuhayan,” he said.

The Senator’s staff distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 459 micro-entrepreneurs at the Aglipay and Saguday municipal gymnasiums. The activities were conducted in batches to ensure all health and safety protocols against COVID-19 were strictly observed.

Selected recipients were given new shoes while others received bicycles to help them travel amid the limited public transportation options available. Some were provided computer tablets to help their children access educational materials in the absence of regular face to face classes.

As part of an ongoing government effort to alleviate the impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable sectors, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed livelihood assistance through its Sustainable Livelihood Program.

“Ang hanapbuhay ko ay isang rolling vegetable store. Hindi naging madali ang pandemya lalo na single parent ako at maliit lang ang kita. Hindi kami makalabas masyado at minsan sa isang linggo lang dumadating ang mga paninda namin. Kaya pinasok ko ang lahat ng pwedeng pagkakakitaan para may pangtustos kami,” shared Fe Madangal, 41, a micro-entrepreneur from Barangay Sto. Thomas, Aglipay.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa natanggap kong pera at makakatulong ito para mabawasan ang paghihirap namin. Sa mga kababayan ko, sana ay patuloy lang tayong magsipag para malampasan natin ang mga pagsubok,” she encouraged.

In 2020, the Senator successfully pushed for the implementation of the Small Business Wage Subsidy program to help MSMEs cope with the adverse impacts of COVID-19. Under the program, the government provided a wage subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 per month for up to two months to every eligible employee who could not work or get paid during the enhanced community quarantine period.

Meanwhile, Go also offered further aid to those needing medical attention. He informed beneficiaries that they may avail of medical assistance for their healthcare needs from any of the 136 Malasakit Centers found nationwide, including those at the Gov. Faustino N. Dy, Sr. Memorial Hospital in Ilagan City; Southern Isabela Medical Center in Santiago City; and Region II Trauma and Medical center in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he principally authored and sponsored, seeks to make all government medical assistance programs more accessible by putting the relevant agencies under one roof. The agencies include the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Hindi biro ang magkasakit sa panahong naghihirap pa rin ang ating ekonomiya. Mas lalong hindi biro kung kailangan tubuhan ka para makahinga habang mag isa kang lumalaban sa ospital na wala ang iyong pamilya sa iyong tabi. Huwag tayong maging kumpiyansa dahil mas nagiging mabagsik ang virus,” continued Go.

“Tandaan natin na ang bawat isa ay may ginagampanang papel sa laban kontra COVID-19. Bagama’t ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat upang mapagaan ang hirap na pinapasan ng ating mga kababayan, hindi nito kaya nang mag-isa lamang. Kailangan ang disiplina at kooperasyon ng lahat,” he stressed.

The Senator went on to thank various officials for their leadership and service at this time, namely Representative Junie Cua; Governor Dakila Cua; Aglipay Mayor Jerry Agsalda and Councilors Arturo Quebral and Fernando Baldos; and Saguday Mayor Marcelina Pagbilao and Vice Mayor Ric Cadiente, among others.

To boost regional development and economic growth in Quirino, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the initiatives for the installation of solar street lights in Saguday and Diffun; concreting of the Sinabbagan Road in Nagtipunan; construction of the Tamsi-Landingan Viewpoint water system in Nagtipunan; and construction of a multi-purpose building in Cabarroguis.

His team also provided relief to over one thousand recovering typhoon victims in Nagtipunan, Cabarroguis, Maddela and Diffun on May 25 and May 26.