Senator Christopher “Bong” Go welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to raise the monthly subsidy for poor families from PhP 200 to PhP 500 in response to the successive fuel price hikes due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. He emphasized the need for government intervention in order to ease the burden on the poor amid the various crises happening.

In a recent statement issued, Go recognized the significant impact of rising oil and fuel prices on the poor, many of whom are already struggling to pay for basic necessities like food and medicine. He emphasized the crucial role of the government in mitigating such adverse effects on the vulnerable sectors by providing them financial assistance to sustain their needs.

“Ipinapakita lamang po nito ang malasakit ni Pangulong Duterte para sa mga mahihirap. Kahit patapos na rin ang kanyang termino, hindi pa rin natitinag ang kanyang pagmamahal sa mga nangangailangan at ang kanyang political will para mabigyan ng mas komportableng buhay ang mga Pilipino sa harap ng maraming pagsubok na ating pinagdadaanan,” said Go.

President Duterte has already directed Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to look for additional funding to accommodate the increased subsidy. The former initially approved the year-long program which would have rolled out a monthly subsidy of PhP 200 for 12 million poor families.

Go, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, then urged the concerned authorities to maximize the available funds and ensure their proper utilization. He also reminded them to make sure that the necessary mechanisms are in place to facilitate their quick and efficient distribution.

“Importante na mabigyan ng solusyon ngayon ang mga hinaing ng taumbayan. Kaya dapat lang na suyurin pa lalo ang nakalaang pondo ng bayan para mapakinabangan ng mga nangangailangan. Bawat piso, bawat sentimo ay mahalaga kaya huwag natin silang pabayaan,” stressed Go.

“Anumang dagdag na ayuda ay malaking tulong para makabangon sila mula sa hirap at matulungan ang bansa na makaahon mula sa pandemya,” he noted.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Go had similarly appealed for the provision of several rounds of assistance for the poorest of the poor in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

The lawmaker reassured that the country can overcome the global crisis through the public’s cooperation. As the country moves towards pandemic recovery, he once again encouraged everyone to observe the minimum public health standards and get vaccinated.

“Huwag nating hayaang may mapapabayaan dito. Importante habang tuluy-tuloy ang pagbabakuna ay huwag tayo magpaka-kumpiyansa. Ulitin ko, huwag nating sayangin ang momentum ngayon ng vaccine rollout at sa pagbalanse ng kalusugan at ekonomiya,” said Go.

“Ang inyong disiplina at kooperasyon ay makakapagligtas ng buhay ng kapwa nating Pilipino. Kaunting sakripisyo ito katumbas ang mga buhay na mapoproteksyunan natin,” he ended.