PASAY CITY -- In light of the economic insecurity brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his appeal to the government to extend greater housing assistance to low-income families that typically cannot afford to have their own homes.
Go made this call during a relief operation mounted by his team for 450 struggling families at the Barangay 120 Covered Court in Caloocan City on Tuesday, March 1.
“Tulungan natin ang bawat Pilipino na magkaroon ng maayos na bahay na komportable at hindi nagsisiksikan sa mga malalaking siyudad tulad ng Maynila. Panahon na para wala nang squatter sa ating bayan. Dapat may oportunidad ang bawat Pilipino na magkaroon ng kanilang bahay, lalo na ang mga mahihirap,” he said in a video message.
Go once again called for the passage of Senate Bill No. 203 or the proposed National Housing Development, Production and Financing Act. Filed in 2019 by the senator, the bill aims to accelerate production of affordable housing by ensuring reliable government funding in the long term.
He also filed SBN 1227, otherwise known as the Rental Subsidy Program Act, in the same year to help poor families displaced by disasters afford proper housing.
Go’s staff distributed meals and masks and also gave select individuals bicycles or shoes for commuting as well as computer tablets for their children’s blended learning activities.
Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial support under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
To make sure that their health concerns are addressed, Go offered additional aid to the poor and indigent patients. He also advised them to avail of the services of any of the 31 Malasakit Centers in Metro Manila, including the one at the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, where they may conveniently avail of the medical assistance offered by the government.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which primarily aims to help patients cover their medical bills.
“Nasa loob na ng mga ospital ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para maging ‘zero balance’ ang inyong billing. Tuluy-tuloy na itong programang ito dahil para sa amin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, hindi dapat pinahihirapan ang mga pasyente. Dapat tulungan natin sila para hindi na sila pumipila sa iba’t ibang ahensya para makahingi ng tulong sa gobyerno,” explained Go.
He went on to urge everyone to continue strictly following the minimum public health standards despite the government relaxing the COVID-19 restrictions in Metro Manila following its deescalation to Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15. In the meantime, Go repeated his call to those eligible to get vaccinated and boosted to ensure that they are not left behind in the path to recovery.
“Mga kababayan, kaunting tiis lang. Alam kong nahihirapan kayo. Kailangan pa din natin mag-ingat at hindi natin afford na mapuno ang mga ospital at baka bumagsak ang health care system,” reminded Go.
“Binabalanse ng gobyerno ang lahat, ang ekonomiya, inyong kabuhayan at kalusugan. So, pakiusap namin ng Pangulo, maging disiplinado at ‘wag maging kumpiyansa. Magtulungan tayong lahat para malampasan natin ang krisis na ito,” he continued.
Ending his remarks, the senator thanked various government officials for their hard work since the onset of the pandemic. To boost the development of Caloocan City, Go earlier supported the funding for the construction of multipurpose buildings in Barangays 171 and 175 in his capacity as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
A similar relief operation was mounted by Go’s team for fire victims in Brgy. 49 last January 18. All distributions were conducted in batches to ensure strict compliance with the mandated health and safety protocols. (OSBG)
