Senator Bong Go personally provided additional assistance to victims of Typhoon Kristine in Iligan City, Misamis Oriental to extend much-needed support and help them rebuild.
“Sa mga nasalanta, huwag ho kayong mag-alala. Sabi ko nga sa inyo noon, ang gamit ay nabibili, ang pera ay kikitain, subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Pangalagaan at ingatan po natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat isa,” Go said in his message.
The legislator’s Malasakit Team, in coordination with the local government of Iligan City led by Mayor Frederick W. Siao, collaborated with the national government so that the beneficiaries could avail of post-disaster shelter assistance for households with totally damaged houses to help them rebuild, through a program which the lawmaker advocated for.
“May tatlong phases ang programa: emergency response, early recovery, and rehabilitation and recovery.”
“Itong post-disaster shelter assistance ay para matiyak ang mabilis at epektibong ayuda para sa mga pamilyang apektado ng natural calamities. May tatlong phases ang programa: emergency response, early recovery, and rehabilitation and recovery,” the senator explained.
During the activity held at Blue Gym in Barangay Luinab, Iligan City, Go and his Malasakit Team distributed food packs, shirts, snacks, basketballs, and volleyballs to 348 beneficiaries.
“Mga kababayan ko, huwag kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Trabaho ko po ang tumulong sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya… kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na magserbisyo sa inyong lahat,” he expressed.
Additionally, Go highlighted the newly enacted Republic Act No. 12076, also known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act. Signed on December 6, 2024, this law mandates the establishment of permanent, safe, and well-equipped evacuation centers across all cities and municipalities in the country.
“Ligtas Pinoy Centers will safeguard the dignity and well-being of disaster-affected communities while accelerating recovery efforts.”
As the principal author and co-sponsor of the legislation, he emphasized how these centers will safeguard the dignity and well-being of disaster-affected communities while accelerating recovery efforts.
Furthermore, Go continues to push for his filed Senate Bill No. 192, which seeks to institutionalize a Rental Housing Subsidy Program. Under the proposed measure, a housing and social protection program will be developed to provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies from the government, if enacted into law.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and a health reform crusader, he also encouraged the affected families to take advantage of the Malasakit Centers.
In Lanao del Norte, Malasakit Centers are located at Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital in Iligan City and Kapatagan Provincial Hospital.
Meanwhile, Malasakit Centers in Misamis Oriental are located at Northern Mindanao Medical Center and JR Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, and Misamis Oriental General Hospital in Medina.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop designed to streamline medical assistance programs from various government agencies, ensuring that Filipinos can access medical assistance to overcome the financial burden of healthcare costs.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. Currently, 167 Malasakit Centers operate nationwide, providing assistance to patients with their medical expenses. According to the DOH, the program has provided aid to over 17 million Filipinos.
“Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit na ang tanging bisyo ay magserbisyo, uunahin ko palagi ang kapakanan at buhay ng aking kapwa Pilipino. Minsan lang tayong dadaan sa mundong ito. Kaya anumang kabutihan at tulong ang pwede nating ibigay sa kapwa ay gawin na natin ngayon,” he stressed.
On the same day, Go also attended the ribbon-cutting of the Super Health Center in Initao, Misamis Oriental then joined the 75th Araw ng Iligan City Celebrations.
