PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s outreach team on Tuesday, November 9, delivered assistance to the residents of Biliran and Cabucgayan, Biliran whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by the ongoing pandemic.

“Hindi lahat maaaring makapaghanap ng trabaho ngayon, lalo nang dahan-dahan pa lang bumabalik ang sigla ng ekonomiya. Kaya dapat suportahan natin ang mga kababayan nating nais magsimula ng kanilang sariling negosyo. Dapat turuan at tulungan natin sila mabigyan ng kapital,” Go said in a video message.

“Sama-sama nating ibabalik ang sigla ng ating kabuhayan. Sa mga taga-Biliran, bukas ang aming opisina ni Pangulo Rodrigo Duterte sa kung ano pa ang pwede naming maitulong sa inyong lahat,” he added.

The team strictly enforced necessary health protocols to safeguard 111 residents while they received meals, masks and vitamins at the Biliran Municipal Gymnasium and Cabucgayan Negosyo Centre Municipal Hall. Go’s staff also gave away pairs of shoes and bicycles to selected residents.

To help the beneficiaries start small businesses to help them support their families, staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed financial assistance through its Sustainable Livelihood Program.

“Dapat suportahan natin ang mga kababayan nating nais magsimula ng kanilang sariling negosyo. Dapat turuan at tulungan natin sila mabigyan ng kapital,” Go said.

“Salamat po sa DSWD sa programang SLP-LAG. Bibigyan ho kayo ng puhunan, tuturuan po kayong magnegosyo. Palaguin n’yo po ang inyong negosyo, gamitin n’yo po sa tama, dalahin n’yo po sa inyong pamilya ang inyong kita, “ he continued.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted assessments of potential beneficiaries for their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

Continuing his remarks, Go assured residents that following the expansion of vaccination roll-out to the general public, the government will continue to provide easy access to doses against COVID-19 to more vulnerable groups to ensure that more Filipinos are protected from the threat of the virus.

The senator then offered assistance to those with health concerns and encouraged the public to visit the Biliran Provincial Hospital in Naval where there is a Malasakit Center ready to provide assistance to cover their medical expenses.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where partnered agencies, including DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, are put under one office so that poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail of their medical assistance programs.

Senator Go then expressed his gratitude to the local officials of Biliran and Cabucgayan for their efforts to help their pandemic-affected constituents. He further appealed to them to continue extending assistance to those in need to ensure that their community builds back better.

Go, who is also the Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported the acquisition of a dump truck for the municipality of Biliran and the construction of Añog Flood Control in Cabugcayan to further improve public service delivery in both municipalities.

He also supported the rehabilitation of existing roads in Almeria and Naval; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Caibiran, Maripipi and Naval; construction of a flood control structure in Naval; the construction of slope protection structure in Almeria; and acquisition of medical equipment for the Biliran Provincial Hospital. (OSBG)