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Bong Go gives aid to micro-entrepreneurs in Nueva Vizcaya while national gov’t assures continuing support for small businesses during pandemic

PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reassured small business owners hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic that the national government is committed to helping them get back on their feet and boost economic recovery.

In a video message at a relief operation in Bambang, Dupax del Norte, Kasibu and Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya on Wednesday, July 28, Go said micro-entrepreneurs may avail of assistance to cover qualifying expenses through the relief programs and other interventions that have been provided to date.

“Mga kababayan, alam naming mahirap ang panahon ngayon. Maraming negosyo ang nagsara at dahil dito, maraming Pilipino ang nawalan ng trabaho. Kaya kailangan natin magtulungan, magbayanihan at magmalasakit sa ating kapwa,” he began.

“Huwag kayong mag-alala. Ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat upang i-balanse ang kalusugan ng bayan at ang pangangailangan ninyong magtrabaho para sa inyong mga pamilya,” he reassured.

The Senator’s staff provided meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 537 micro-entrepreneurs at the Barangay San Antonio South Gym in Bambang, Dupax del Norte municipal gym, Kasibu Central School, and St. Joseph Parish Gym in Kayapa.

Selected recipients were given shoes while others received bicycles to help them travel amid the limited public transportation options available. Some were also provided computer tablets to help their children who are studying under the blended learning approach.

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 provided assistance grants through its Sustainable Livelihood Program.

The Department of Agriculture handed out vegetable seeds and grafted fruit tree seedlings as well as turned over new delivery trucks to the local farming cooperatives.

In the meantime, the Department of Health distributed medicines and vitamins. The Department of Trade and Industry committed to extended further aid based on its existing assistance programs upon completing its assessments.

“Isa akong construction worker. Nung wala pang pandemya, maayos pa ang trabaho. Ngayon, ang hirap ng buhay. Bumaba na ang kita namin kaya nagsa-sideline nalang ako at nagtatanim sa bukid para may maipakain ako sa aking pamilya,” shared Mark Anthony Tablang, 25, a resident of Dupax del Norte.

“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyo Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at Senator Bong Go para sa tulong ninyo. Makakaumpisa na kami ng isang magandang negosyo dahil sa inyo,” he continued.

In his message, Go also offered further help to beneficiaries who are in need of medical attention. He informed them that they may conveniently avail of government aid through the Malasakit Center at the Region II Trauma and Medical Center in Bayombong.

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 DOH, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The Senator went on to thank local public officials for their service, namely Representative Luisa Lloren Cuaresma; Governor Carlos Padilla; Vice Governor Jose Tomas Sr.; Bambang Mayor Pepito Balgos and Vice Mayor Mark Balgos; Dupax del Norte Mayor Timothy Cayton and Vice Mayor Frederick Padilla; Kasibu Mayor Romeo Tayaban and Vice Mayor Alberto Bumolo Jr.; and Kayapa Mayor Elizabeth Balasya and Vice Mayor Peter Bay-an, among others.

To boost regional development and economic growth in Nueva Vizcaya, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the funding for the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Bambang and Villaverde; municipal building in Kayapa; construction of an evacuation center in Dupax del Sur; concreting or improvement of local roads in Dupax del Norte, Kayapa, Ambaguio and Diadi; construction of potable water supply systems in Santa Fe; and assistance for indigent residents impacted by the pandemic.

His team also provided relief to hundreds of micro-entrepreneurs in Alfonso Castañeda and residents in Aritao and Santa Fe the previous day, July 27. The activities were held in batches to ensure all health and safety protocols against COVID-19 were strictly observed throughout the distribution. (OSBG)

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Kate Shiene Austria

Information Officer III

Information Officer III under the Creative and Production Services Division of the Philippine Information Agency. 

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