Teachers’ salary increase, disaster resilience top Go’s priority measures

MANILA, Philippines — The proposal to increase the salary of teachers and institutionalizing disaster resilience top senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go’s list of priority measures he will push in the Senate.

Go yesterday discussed his plan to increase the salary of public school teachers after the implementation of the fourth and final tranche of their compensation adjustment in 2019, pursuant to Executive Order 21 s. 2016 as amended by EO 76 s. 2019.

Aside from public school teachers, he said he is also looking into increasing the salary of all civilian personnel of the government in consonance with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value and to attract and retain competent and committed civil servants.

“No one should be left behind. We must have a holistic approach to include other ordinary workers in the government,” he said in a statement.

The senator-elect will also push for measures to address problems of informal settlers and provide affordable houses for all, especially the poor and homeless.

“We need a long-term affordable housing program,” he said.

Go stressed that various forms of housing intervention should be pursued so that each Filipino family will have its own roof.

He is also pushing for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience to scale up the country’s resiliency and preparedness when it comes to natural calamities and man-made disasters, and a law that would enable the establishment of Malasakit Centers in more provinces and strategic urban centers in the country and allow as well for the continuation of the program even after the term of President Duterte.

The Malasakit Center is a continuing program of the administration seeking to make it easier and faster for indigent patients to avail themselves of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and PhilHealth.

The creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers is also a priority, according to Go. The proposed department will serve as a one-stop-shop in providing legal assistance for overseas Filipino workers in distress; to arrange a full migration cycle approach in promoting migrant’s rights from pre-employment to onsite and reintegration services; and to launch a shared database system that contains important information of all OFWs to aid in tracking their status and fast-track the delivery of assistance, especially to distressed workers.

The senator-elect is also planning to push for the extension of the term of the current barangay officials whose terms were cut short due to the postponement of the last barangay elections. He said two years is not enough to complete their programs and projects that will benefit their constituents.

Go added that he is looking forward for the monthly mini Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meetings to facilitate the passage of key measures that may be considered priorities by Congress and the administration. He cited Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s support of the monthly mini LEDACs.

Meanwhile, supporters of Go who may resort to illegal businesses may not expect help from him.

Go, who distributed cash assistance and grocery and food items to 247 fire affected families in Brgy. 2 Poblacion in Bacolod City on Sunday, told reporters that he would not tolerate the “illegal businesses” of his election supporters.

“Even if you helped me during the election, I will not help you if your business is illegal,” Go said, although he assured help to those engaged in legal busineses.

More than 200 houses made of light materials were razed by fire recently in Purok Cagaycay, Brgy. 2 Poblacion, Bacolod City which, according to the police, is a drug-haven. The fire victims are now temporarily staying at the covered court of the Andres Bonifacio Elementary School.

On the other hand, Go requested that the DSWD, National Housing Authority as well as other government agencies help the fire victims.

“We must do whatever good we can extend to others because we just live once. I believe that service to man is also service to God,” the senator-elect said.

Go, who was accompanied by movie actor Philip Salvador, was joined by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, outgoing Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Negros Occidental Vice Governor-elect Jeffrey Ferrer, Bacolod Councilor Em Ang and businessman Jerry Sy.– With Gilbert Bayoran