PASAY CITY -- 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 on Thursday, July 22.

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 center is a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs of the DOH, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The program was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate prior to President Rodrigo Duterte signing it into law in December 2019.

The Senator proceeded to thank various officials for their continuing support of their constituents, namely Mayor Ando Oaminal, Vice Mayor Simplicia Neri, Tinago Punong Barangay Ricky Fuentes, San Roque Punong Barangay Gerardo Gabas, and Maningcol Punong Barangay Elizabeth Bitay.

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.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Go earlier supported the funding for the construction of a multi-purpose building and the Panguil Bay Access road, concreting of the Villa Consuelo and Calabayan - Pantaon roads, widening of the Ozamiz airport road, and installation of street lights in Ozamiz City.

He also supported the construction or rehabilitation of roads in Aloran, Bonifacio, Calamba, Clarin, Don Victoriano, Jimenez, Sapang Dalaga, Sinacban and Tudela; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Concepcion, Jimenez, Plaridel, Tudela, Oroquieta and Tangub City; and installation of streetlights in Tangub City and along various national highways and provincial roads in Misamis Occidental. (OSBG)