BUTUAN CITY – A total of 21 individuals from six families whose houses were razed by a fire that hit a village in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, received aid from Senator Bong Go.
Go’s staff personally handed over the relief goods on Sept. 1 to the victims that include food packs, masks, cash assistance, and medicines, according to the statement released by the senator on Friday.
During the distribution, the senator also had the chance to convey his message to the fire victims through a video call.
“I am aware of the situation you are going through after the fire and the difficulties we face together because of the pandemic. Despite the situation, I will do my best to extend help for you to survive this difficult situation,” Go told the victims.
He also told the families that representatives from the National Housing Authority (NHA) are with his staff to provide assistance through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program.
The senator also pointed out that among his priorities in the Senate is to address the problem of homelessness, which are contained in Senate Bills 203 and 1227.
“SB 203, or the National Housing Development, Production and Financing Act, aims to significantly accelerate housing production and ensure sufficient reliable government funding and financing for socialized housing in the coming years while SB 1227, or the Rental Subsidy Program Act, seeks to provide homes for displaced families and help them sustain their livelihoods by offering them various options during the interim process of construction and relocation,” the lawmaker’s office said.
The two bills also seek to end the problem of squatting in the country by providing decent homes to every Filipino family.
“The Senator emphasized that it is important for each Filipino family to have a good home. He added that he has already seen firsthand the struggles of the poor and vulnerable Filipinos who live in cramped shanties and mostly informal settlements without proper sanitation. Go said that such living conditions make it easy for a disease such as the Covid-19 to spread,” the statement said.
During Tuesday aid distribution, the local government of Nasipit also provided food packs and non-food items to the affected residents together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. (PNA)