FINANCIAL AID. Senator Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go delivers financial assistance and other aid packages on Tuesday (Oct. 27, 2020) to fishermen and workers of the General Santos City fishport who are affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19 crisis. The senator says he advocated for the release of the assistance to show that the government is always ready to respond to the needs of distressed Filipinos. (PNA photo by Richelyn Gubalani)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – At least 350 workers and fishermen here affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis received financial assistance and food packages from the national government on Tuesday.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go personally delivered the assistance along with some personal protective equipment in a visit to the fishport complex in Barangay Tambler here.
The senator said he pushed for the release of the assistance to show that the government is always ready to respond to the distressed residents' needs.
“I heard that our fisherfolk and workers here need help, so we pushed to provide them with a little help to tide over this crisis,” he said.
Go met with other affected stakeholders of the fishport complex to discuss their situation and possible government interventions.
He assured that the poor residents and the vulnerable sectors would be the first to receive the Covid-19 vaccines once they become available.
A report from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 12 said the 350 beneficiaries, who received PHP3,000 each or a total of P1,050,000, comprise the first batch of recipients of the assistance program.
DSWD-12 said a total of 1,500 fishermen and workers were identified as recipients of the city's financial assistance.
During his visit, Go also delivered food packages, face masks, and face shields to the beneficiaries.
“I’m appealing to everyone to make it a habit to follow the health protocols so we can eventually beat this pandemic,” he said.
The local government shut down the fishport complex for at least five days last month due to the confirmed Covid-19 transmission at the facility.
The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority and the city government have since implemented stricter control measures to prevent further infections of the disease among its workers and visiting traders. (PNA)
