LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Benguet caretaker congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap announced that the mobile ‘ tulong’ program will be available soon on the streets in the different municipalities of the province as part of the continuing efforts of the lawmaker to mitigate the impact of the extended Luzonwide enhanced community quarantine to the people.
Yap, who now chairs the House Committee on appropriations, claimed that despite the concerted efforts of concerned government agencies, the local governments and the congressional district office, to extend the needed assistance to those most impacted by the quarantine, there has been a continuous flow of messages from people who request for other forms of assistance, such as medicines and vitamins, among others.
He pointed out that clearly, there has to be a creative approach in providing the people with the appropriate assistance to make these meet the pressing needs of the different sectors living in the different communities.
Earlier, Yap donated some P1 million from his personal resources for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)relief through the provincial government, P2.5 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) and more than 500 sacks of rice to the 13 municipalities over the past several weeks.
Aside from Benguet, Yap also donated relief packs and other essential goods in different areas in the country since the start of the enhanced community quarantine at no cost to the government.
“Iba pa itong mobile tulong natin doon sa pinapadaan natin sa mga local government na essential goods. This mobile tulong is a different approach to cater to the needs of the people. Simply put, this is similar to the famous mobile palengke but it is free. Hindi lang bigas at delata ang maibibigay natin pati na rin vitamins, gamut, gatas, o kung ano pang sa tingin natin ay kailangan ng komunidad na pupuntahan natin. This will lessen their need to go out lalo na sa panahon ngayon,” Congressman Yap stressed.
He stated that this time is just the beginning of the mobile ‘tulong,’ eventually, it will evolve to other kinds of services that could be offered and will go to other places after the COVID-19 crisis.
The congressman revealed he will bring closer to the people basic, services such as medical and educational assistance or whatever will be the needs of the people in the different communities considering that mobile ‘tulong’ is not just literally a vehicle but it is a holistic approach in ensuring his office will deliver a more responsive and efficient public service to the people.
Yap also welcomed the support from other partners to boost the capability of the mobile ‘tulong’ program since it is important that individuals and groups can help in whatever capacity to serve as an inspiration to others who also want to extend assistance.
According to him, the true spirit of ‘bayanihan’ is for everyone who has the means to extend assistance to people in need during these trying times.
By DEXTER A. SEE