Sen. Bong Go helps Negros typhoon victims
IN coordination with the local governments of Ilog, Candoni, and Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, February 13, assisted Typhoon Egay victims to recover and rebuild their lives, homes, and livelihood.
Go’s Malasakit Team held relief activities at the Municipal Social Welfare and Development offices in Ilog, Candoni, and Hinoba-an Municipal Hall. A total of 28 typhoon victims received snacks, grocery packs, vitamins, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
Meanwhile, through Go’s initiative, the National Housing Authority extended emergency housing assistance to qualified beneficiaries to help them further rebuild.
The lawmaker underscored the need for better disaster resilience and recovery mechanisms as he highlighted Senate Bill (SB) 188, which seeks to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). The bill aims to create a new Cabinet-level department focusing on holistic approaches to enhance disaster preparedness.
The senator added that the DDR should concentrate on disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and better building progress.
Go mentioned said the Malasakit Center at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City offers medical assistance for those in need.
He is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act (RA) 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. This one-stop shop aims to support underprivileged patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.
The program has benefitted more or less ten million Filipinos, with 159 Malasakit Centers established nationwide.
Go said that Super Health Centers will be established in 31 key areas in Negros Occidental. A Super Health Center is designed to prioritize primary care, consultations and early detection of health issues. It aims to fortify the health care sector, especially in underserved communities.
Sufficient funds have been allocated for the construction of over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.
Go likewise principally sponsored RA 11564, which led to the establishment of the Bacolod City General Hospital. This law was signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2021.
Go aims to deliver enhanced public service to the province as he supported the construction of a revetment, multipurpose public facilities, and several road maintenance initiatives in Bacolod City, and the construction of a multipurpose building and concreting of a local road in the town of Don Salvador Benedicto.
Other initiatives Go supported are the construction of multipurpose buildings in Calatrava and Himamaylan City, road maintenance in Bago City, and constructing a new infectious diseases wing at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.