Needy families receive timely aid in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — In times of disasters and crises, local and national governments play a pivotal role in creating a conducive environment where the vulnerable sectors are in a better position to bounce back and recover.

To contribute to facilitating this environment for the urban poor sector of Quezon City, Councilor Mikey Belmonte of the 2nd district of Quezon City, in cooperation with the office of Sen. Bong Go and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, led the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) for around 1,000 beneficiaries from the 2nd district in Barangay Payatas the other day.

Under the AICS program, the immediate relief assistance ensures that urban poor households are more capable of sustainably recovering from the income or property losses suffered.

The Quezon City councilor and the senator also led the official inauguration and blessing of two MB-SBG Multi-Purpose Buildings (MPBs) in Barangay Commonwealth and Payatas. The MPB is envisioned to play a key role in ensuring communities’ access to quality public services, as well as in strengthening governance, transparency and accountability among homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations and other civil society and peoples’ organizations.

The two MPBs are part of the eight that have been constructed through the partnership of Belmonte and Go to serve urban poor concerns, especially on housing, good governance and strengthened people’s participation.

As vice chair of the Senate committee on finance, Go was instrumental in securing the necessary funding for the construction of these projects.

In his speech, Go reminded everyone to stay cautious following a recent earthquake, emphasizing the importance of safety and for citizens to heed the government’s instructions in times of emergencies.

Go, as chair of the Senate committee on health and demography, encouraged the public to avail of medical assistance from any of the 11 Malasakit Centers in the city.

Malasakit Centers in Quezon City are located at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine National Police General Hospital and Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

Through the collective effort of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. The DOH identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.

In Quezon City, necessary funds have been allocated for the DOH to construct Super Health Centers in six different barangays.

The senator also sponsored in the Senate the passage of Republic Act 11501 in 2020, increasing the QMMC’s bed capacity from 500 to 1,000 beds, and RA 11561 in 2021, increasing the EAMC’s bed capacity from 600 to 1,000 beds.

Go expressed his gratitude to local officials, including Mayor Belmonte, Councilors Belmonte, Godie Liban and others, for their unwavering dedication and service to the people they represent.

“As your senator, I will help as much as I can and push forward your projects, proposals and aspirations that will benefit every Filipino. To the best of my ability, I will be supporting your community’s progress,” Go stressed mostly in Filipino.

“To my countrymen here, I know times are still hard but just continue supporting the government and keep caring for each other. We will eventually rise from this crisis,” he encouraged.