Senator Bong Go’s outreach team provided relief to overseas Filipino workers and their families in Digos City, Davao del Sur as part of the senator’s efforts to assist those whose lives and livelihoods have been adversely affected by the ongoing pandemic.
As Go continues to prioritize the welfare of migrant workers, he reiterated the importance of strengthening reintegration programs for returning OFWs, such as livelihood support, wellness and financial literacy programs, and other similar projects, pursuant to the Department of Migrant Workers Act.
The Senate version of the Act, Senate Bill No. 2234, was authored and co-sponsored by the legislator in a bid to improve coordination among agencies dealing with the concerns of Filipino migrant workers and ensure the efficient and effective delivery of critical public services to OFWs.
“Itong mga OFWs natin, napakalaki po talaga ng naitutulong sa kanilang mga pamilya at pati na rin sa bansa. Kumakayod sila araw-araw, malayo sila sa kanilang mga pamilya, para lang siguraduhin na may makakain ang kanilang mahal sa buhay. Kaya kailangan nating gawin ang lahat upang masuportahan sila at ang kanilang mga pamilya,” the lawmaker stressed.
In his video message for the beneficiaries, Go asked them to remain supportive of the government as it continues to strengthen its efforts to ensure that more Filipinos are protected from the virus and to help the country return to normalcy soon.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, he likewise urged those eligible to get vaccinated and boosted immediately.
“Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang po tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, at magmalasakit po tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Ginagawa po lahat ng gobyerno para po malampasan natin ang mga krisis na ito,” Go said.
“Unti-unti na pong sumisigla ang ating ekonomiya kaya ‘wag natin ito pabayaan.”
“Ngayon, habang patuloy po ang pagbabakuna, kailangan po ang kooperasyon, kailangan po ang disiplina ng bawat isa. Sumunod tayo sa mga health protocols. Unti-unti na pong sumisigla ang ating ekonomiya kaya ‘wag natin ito pabayaan,” he reminded.
Go’s team mounted the relief activity at Dawis Beach where 300 OFW families were assisted.
The team distributed masks and shirts to each beneficiary and also gave away shoes, cellular phones, umbrellas, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select individuals.
A team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also provided financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Go then offered additional assistance to those with medical concerns and advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers located at Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Digos City or Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
Signed into law in 2019, the Malasakit Centers Act, which Go principally authored and sponsored, mandates the establishment of the centers in every Department of Health-run hospital nationwide and in the Philippine General Hospital in Manila where particularly poor and indigent patients can conveniently access medical assistance programs by the government.
“Meron na po tayong 153 Malasakit Centers sa buong bansa na handang tumulong sa inyo.”
“Meron na po tayong 153 Malasakit Centers sa buong bansa na handang tumulong sa inyo. Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing,” he explained.
To further improve the province’s healthcare system, Go also supported the establishment of Super Health Centers in Digos City and Matanao.
Super Health Centers offer basic health services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients are done.
To help create more economic opportunities in the province, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Digos City, Bansalan, Hagonoy, Magsaysay, Malalag, Padada, and Sulop; and the development of a bat cave in Matanao.
“Ako naman po, sisiguraduhin kong mapagsilbihan po kayong lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya. Maayong Pasko ug malipayong bag-ong tuig! Naghinaot ko na ang Ginoo mohatag nato og maayong panglawas ug kauswagan para sa atong tanan,” he concluded.
