PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2393 or the proposed Rental Housing Subsidy Act of 2021, which he maintained will ensure Filipinos have easier access to housing support following a natural disaster.

Go highlighted the plight of displaced families who cannot afford to build or rent a home. He reiterated the need to provide increased housing subsidies for them in a video message at the relief operations conducted by his team for victims of Typhoon Odette in Tagbilaran City and Dauis, Bohol on Friday, March 25.

SBN 2393 is primarily authored and co-sponsored by Go. It is the substituted version of an earlier bill he filed in 2019 to assist disaster victims by helping them relocate to a temporary home during the rebuilding period. It is pending second reading in the Senate.

"Sa aking pag-iikot at pagbibigay tulong sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta ng bagyo, I have witnessed first-hand the worsening situation of the lives of our fellow countrymen who have no permanent place to call a home," said Go.

"Ngayon na nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, lumalala ang kalagayan nila. Madalas, mas takot pa ang mga kababayan natin na mawalan ng matitirahan kaysa magkaroon ng COVID-19. Hindi ito tama kaya ipaglalaban ko na magkaroon ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino ng isang maayos at disenteng bahay," he continued.

The senator’s outreach team provided meals and masks to 2,000 typhoon victims at the Bohol Wisdom School gym in Tagbilaran City and Dauis municipal gymnasium. The activities were conducted in batches to ensure strict adherence to the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

In addition, they gave select individuals bicycles or new pairs of shoes and provided others with computer tablets for their children’s educational needs.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial aid as part of the government’s intervention measures. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments for their respective assistance programs.

To improve the country's disaster readiness, the senator likewise reiterated his commitment to push for the enactment of SBN 1228 or the Mandatory Evacuation Center Act. The bill aims to establish safe, permanent, and dedicated evacuation centers in every city, province, and municipality in the country. Each center will be fully-equipped to provide immediate aid to disaster victims.

“When disaster strikes, the underprivileged suffer the most. Nakita naman natin ang matinding pangangailangan para sa mga istrukturang ito na magsisilbing panandaliang tahanan ng mga Pilipino sa tuwing may bagyo o anumang natural disaster,” added Go.

“Huwag na nating antayin na may panibagong sakuna pang dumating. Dapat umaksyon na tayo ngayon upang maprotektahan lalo ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he stressed.

To ensure the health of the typhoon victims, Go offered additional aid to those with medical concerns. He also encouraged them to obtain assistance from the government through the Malasakit Center at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City or Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay.

The Malasakit Center brings together under one roof the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to provide patients convenient access to the agencies’ respective medical assistance programs.

Its primary aim is to help reduce a patient's hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering various patient services and expenses. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the bill that became Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

Ending his message, the senator thanked 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto, Governor Arthur Yap, Vice Governor Rene Relampagos, Tagbilaran Mayor John Yap and Dauis Mayor Marietta Sumaylo and other local officials for their continuing support to the victims.

Go vowed to push for other initiatives to improve the quality of life of the people in Bohol. As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he previously supported the construction of two multipurpose buildings in Dauis; and the renovation of and construction of another multipurpose building for the Cogon Public Market, construction of a regional cultural hub, and provision of food assistance in Tagbilaran City.

Other major initiatives in the province include the construction of multipurpose buildings in Alicia, Anda, Balilihan, Batuan, Buenavista, Danao, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Guindulman, Loay, Loon and Valencia; improvement of evacuation centers in Panglao, Anda, Balilihan, Carmen, Corella, Garcia-Hernandez and Valencia; installation of a water system in President Carlos P. Garcia; construction of the municipal slaughterhouse in Inabanga; acquisition and installation of solar-powered street lights in Getafe; and acquisition of a multipurpose vehicle and dump truck for the local government of Clarin.

Last February 19, the senator’s team extended similar aid to 1,304 beneficiaries of the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program in Talibon and Getafe. (OSBG)