Press Release - Bong Go's Malasakit Team assists displaced workers in Initao, Misamis Oriental

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, in coordination with Mayor Mercy Acain, dispatched his Malasakit Team to Initao, Misamis Oriental on Thursday, December 21 to assist 322 displaced workers.

The relief effort was held at Initao National Comprehensive High School where all displaced workers received shirts, vitamins, masks, snacks, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Select recipients also received a watch, a mobile phone, and a pair of shoes.

After completing the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program, the agency also provided them with livelihood support through temporary employment.

"Sa pamamagitan ng programa na ito, tayo ay nakatutulong sa mga manggagawang naapektuhan ng krisis at nagbibigay ng agarang tulong sa kanilang mga pangangailangan," Go said in a video message.

"Patuloy po tayong magtutulungan upang mas mapabuti pa ang kalagayan ng ating mga disadvantaged at displaced workers. Magkasama tayo sa layuning ito na makabuo ng mas makatarungan at mas matatag na lipunan para sa lahat ng Pilipino," he added.

Go has also introduced Senate Bill No. 420, designed to create a system that offers temporary jobs to qualified individuals from impoverished families in rural areas. This bill proposes the establishment of the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) under DOLE. The main goal of REAP, if it becomes law, is to provide short-term job opportunities for those identified as economically underprivileged, impoverished, displaced, or seasonal workers.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also mentioned that medical assistance programs are attainable through the Malasakit Center at Northern Mindanao Medical Center and J.R. Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. To date, the Malasakit Centers have assisted around ten million Filipinos nationwide, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

"Ang target po ng Malasakit Center ay ma-cover ang inyong billing. Kaya huwag po kayong mahihiyang