Sectors hard hit by pandemic assured of government aid

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go has assured vulnerable sectors, particularly farmers and fisherfolk affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, of continued support from the government.

Go last Friday visited the sectors in Dauis town in Bohol in support of a joint relief operation for struggling communities done by several government agencies.

About 200 farmers and fisherfolk and 30 former rebels were given meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields. The rebels also received assistance from the Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Some select recipients also received new pairs of shoes while others were provided with bicycles and computer tablets to help their children study and access educational materials at home. The Department of Agriculture also turned over a new boat and some nets to fishermen impacted by the pandemic.

Go urged everyone to keep supporting the country’s COVID-19 response efforts as he announced that Bohol province would receive additional vaccine doses as more supplies come in the country.

He gave reassurance that the government is expediting the distribution of vaccines particularly to the A4 priority group, which includes farmers, fisherfolk and other essential workers, and will continue to prioritize other poor and vulnerable sectors in accordance with the prioritization framework.

He also witnessed the turnover of housing units to the uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police and disaster victims at the St. Michael Village earlier that day.