Provides aid to disadvantaged workers in Urdaneta City

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, an adopted son of Pangasinan, extended support to displaced workers in Barangay Cabuloan, Urdaneta City.

“Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, lagi ko pong uunahin ang kapakanan ninyo dahil ang bisyo ko ay ang magserbisyo. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino sa abot ng aking makakaya,” said Go.

Go’s Malasakit Team, in coordination with Cabuloan Brgy. Captain Danny Ildefonso, assisted 98 affected workers at the barangay hall.

With the support of Go and Ildefonso, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also conducted an orientation as part of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program for qualified beneficiaries.

“Sabi ko, kakapalan ko mukha ko para sa barangay ko, para makatulong sa kababayan ko. Hindi po ako napahiya at natupad ang pangarap ko na makausap po sya. Sabi pa ni senator sa akin, ‘uy, idol!’ pero ang sabi ko po kay Senator Bong Go, ‘Senator, ako po ang magsasabi na idol ko po kayo’ dahil idol ko siya sa pagtulong,” Ildefonso, who is also a legend in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), shared.

“Di po nagtagal, andito na po kayo. Andito na po yung tulong na hiningi ko kay Senator Bong Go… Senator, maraming maraming salamat sa inyo. Sana huwag kayong magsawa dahil maraming marami kayong napapasaya at natutulungan,” Ildefonso added.

Go emphasized the need to protect the interests of marginalized workers, particularly those in rural communities who require more job opportunities.

In response, he introduced Senate Bill No. 420, advocating for a framework to offer short-term job opportunities for qualified individuals from low-income rural families.

This bill proposes the creation of the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) that would focus on providing temporary employment options to those who qualify based on economic hardship, poverty, displacement, or reliance on seasonal work.

“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,” Go said.

To further ease the financial burden on Filipino families, Go also co-authored and co-sponsored SBN 2534, which aims to raise the daily minimum wage by P100 nationwide.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also encouraged residents to take advantage of the medical assistance offered at the Malasakit Centers in the province, located at Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center in Rosales and Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. To date, 165 operational centers have helped around ten million Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH.