During the rescue operations carried out by his team in Sudipen, La Union on December 27 and 28, SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go told micro-entrepreneurs that the national government is determined to helping them get back on their feet.
Going over the necessity of being vaccinated and following health and safety standards to prevent Covid-19 from spreading, Go reiterated in a video message.
For the country to restore to normalcy as quickly as possible, he re-emphasized the importance of more public participation in the battle against the epidemic.
“Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat diyan sa La Union. Patuloy po tayong mag-ingat ngayong panahon. Tandaan natin na ang maayos na kalusugan at ligtas na komunidad ang pinaka-importanteng maibibigay natin sa ating mga mahal sa buhay (Good day to all of you there in La Union. Let us continue to be careful at this time. Be reminded that good health and a safe community is the most important that we can give to our loved ones),” said Go.
“Sabihin niyo sa mga kapitbahay ninyo, kung gusto niyo makalabas sa inyong mga pamamahay ay magpabakuna na kayo. Ang bakuna lamang ang tanging susi o solusyon upang makamtan natin ang herd immunity at makabalik na tayo sa dati nating pamumuhay (Tell your neighbors, if you want to go out of your houses, have yourselves vaccinated. The vaccine is the only key or solution for us to achieve herd immunity and to return to our normal way of living),” he added.
At the municipal gymnasium, the senator’s staff fed 800 micro-entrepreneurs and gave them masks. They offered new shoes, a bicycle for touring, or a computer tablet for their children’s homework at home to a few small company owners.
Under the Sustainable Livelihood Program—Livelihood Support Grants, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided livelihood assistance grants (SLP-LAG).
“Dapat suportahan natin ang mga kababayan nating nais magsimula ng kanilang sariling negosyo. Dapat turuan at tulungan natin sila mabigyan ng kapital (We should support our countrymen who want to start their own business. We should teach and help them to have a capital),” Go said.
“Salamat po sa DSWD sa programang SLP-LAG. Bibigyan po kayo ng puhunan at tuturuan po kayong magnegosyo. Palaguin ninyo po ang inyong negosyo, gamitin ninyo po sa tama, dalhin ninyo po sa inyong pamilya ang inyong kita (Thank you to DSWD for the SLP-LAG program. You will be provided with capital and teach you how to manage your business. Let your business grow, use it correctly, bring your earnings to your family),” he added.
Bong Go, as the head of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, advised everyone to put their health first and offered extra help to individuals who had medical issues.
He also encouraged them to seek medical help at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center at San Fernando City’s Malasakit Center.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, as well as other government agencies, to make it easier for poor and indigent patients to access government medical assistance programs.
Under Republic Act 11463, commonly known as the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019,” which Go wrote and sponsored in the Senate, it was established.
Bong Go has previously campaigned for the adoption of the small business wage subsidy program in 2020 to assist micro, small, and medium firms in dealing with the economic effects of the epidemic. Every qualified employee who was unable to work or get paid during the increased community quarantine period received a monthly salary subsidy ranging from P5,000 to P8,000.
With additional report: manilatimes
Image sources: manilatimes and ptvnews
