PASAY CITY -- As Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues to push for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1227 or the Rental Housing Subsidy Act, he also continues to conduct outreach efforts for community members who lost homes due to various crises and calamities. Most recently, he sent aid to more than a thousand flash flood victims in Barangay Talomo River, Davao City on July 23.

Go, in his video message, shared that he filed SBN 1227 which aims to establish a housing and social protection program with the end view of enabling Informal Settler Beneficiaries to lead decent lives by supporting them in accessing the formal housing market by offering a rental subsidy.

"Importante po na magkaroon ng maayos na tirahan ang pamilyang Pilipino. Nakita naman po natin ang hirap ng buhay lalo na sa panahon ng kalamidad at pandemya. Kapag dikit-dikit ang bahay, hindi maayos ang sanitation, karamihan po informal settlers, mas madaling kumalat ang sakit," Go said.

This shall also be made an option to address the temporary relocation of displaced families due to natural and man-made disasters.

For eligible beneficiaries below the poverty threshold as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the subsidy envisioned in the bill will be at least 50 percent of the total amount of rentals.

Meanwhile, the Senator reminded the beneficiaries to stay disciplined and compliant with health preventive measures against COVID-19. He further encouraged them to take part in the vaccination program.

“Naa lang koy hangyo sa inyo, salig mo sa bakuna. Ang bakuna ang susi o solusyon para hinay-hinay na ta makabalik sa atong kinabuhi gaya sa una. Hangyo lang ko sa inyo, salig mo sa bakuna,” expressed Go.

(“Mayroon lang akong pakiusap sa inyo, magtiwala kayo sa bakuna. Ang bakuna ang susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating pamumuhay katulad noong una. Pakiusap ko lang sa inyo, magtiwala kayo sa bakuna.”)

“Ang bakuna ang solusyon natin o susi para makamtan natin ang population protection… itong herd immunity para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” he added.

Go’s team strictly enforced safety and health protocols to safeguard the 277 families, composed of 1,000 individuals, in Barangay Talomo River. The team carried out the house-to-house distribution where they handed out essentials, such as grocery packs, masks, face shields, and vitamins to the flood victims.

Apart from the assistance provided by Go, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development granted each beneficiary with financial assistance through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Jay Renant Balubar, one of the beneficiaries, expressed his gratitude to President Rodrigo Dutere and Go for the assistance he received. “May natanggap po akong food packs at cash assistance. Maraming salamat po kay Senator Bong Go at sa President,” he said.

As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go reached out to beneficiaries with health concerns and advised them that they can visit the nearby Malasakit Center at Southern Philippines Medical Center located in the city.

The center is a one-stop shop where low-income patients may conveniently avail of the medical assistance programs offered by DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. To date, there are 130 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

“Sa mga kapatid ko, sa mga kapitbahay ko, mag-ingat kayo parati at magdasal tayo. Nandito lang kami ni Presidente Duterte at handang magserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya, puntahan niyo lang kami at handa kaming magserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aming makakaya,” said Go.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senator supported various infrastructure initiatives in Davao City. Among these are the improvement of public structures and roads as well as the construction or rehabilitation of various multi-purpose buildings in different barangays around the city as well as the Philippine Red Cross Regional Office at the SPMC, Paquibato District Hall, Hope Day Care Center, and many more.

Other infrastructure support also include the construction of water systems in Brgy. Acacia, Brgy. Fatima, Brgy. Mabuhay, and Brgy. San Isidro; construction or widening of a drainage canal at Brgy. Bunawan Proper and Brgy. Mintal; construction or rehabilitation of a drainage system in Tupaz Outfall, Brgy. Centro, Brgy. Mudiang and Brgy. Ubalde; construction of a flood control structure in Brgy. 9-A and for the Datu Loho Creek, among others.

Furthermore, Go also helped in the funding of acquiring ambulance units for Southern Philippines Medical Center, Barangays Mintal, Buhangin, and Gatungan; and the construction of 300-bed capacity Infectious Diseases Building in Southern Philippines Medical Center.

Go also commended various local officials for their continuing efforts to assist the affected families and their untiring service to the city. Among those that Go praised were Mayor Sara Duterte, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Deputy Speaker and 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, and Lasang Brgy. Captain Allan Simo-ag, among others.

“Mayroon po akong utang na loob sa pamilya Duterte, kay Pangulong Duterte, Mayor Inday, Vice Mayor Baste at Congressman Pulong na walang hinto sa pagseserbisyo sa inyo. Wala ako ngayon kung hindi sa mahal na Pangulo, siya ang aking inspirasyon sa pagseserbisyo. Kaya pakiusap, sana ay suportahan ninyo ang pamilya Duterte sa kung anuman ang kanilang magiging desisyon pagdating ng panahon,” said Go earlier.

From July 20 to 21, Go’s staff carried out the distribution activities in Davao City to aid 1,191 families, composed of 5,024 individuals, who were also victimized by flash floods. (OSBG)