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| Photo courtesy of MSN |
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has appealed to the national government to review and formulize programs that would encourage people to go back to their provinces as we face the so called 'new normal' after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The Pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis brought many issues and challenges that would need us to come up with long-term solutions that would put a stop to the current public health emergency and avoid the further spread of such diseases in the future.
The former special assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte, is pushing for "Balik Probinsya" that would encourage people to go back to their provinces to ease congestion in the Metro.
“Habang patuloy nating nilalabanan ang COVID-19, paghandaan na natin sa ngayon pa lang ang ‘new normal’. I-tama na natin ang mga mali para hindi na maulit ang mga problema at maging mas handa tayo sa anumang krisis,‘’Sen. Go said.
As the chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, Go, reiterated his appeal for the government to prepare for the implementation of a “Balik Probinsya” (Back to the Province) program at the right time.
However, we wolud be able to determine the implementation of the program after health experts have controlled the spread of COVID-19 or when “we have already flattened the curve, the senator explained.
“Nananawagan ako sa pamahalaan na mag-umpisa nang maglatag ng programang ‘Balik Probinsya’ at iba pang mga hakbang na magbibigay insentibo sa ating mga kababayan na lumipat na ulit sa kanilang mga probinsya,’’ he added.
Implementation of the program would be determined by health experts when the spread of COVID-19 is already under control or when “we have already flattened the curve,’’ he explained.
“Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte ay probinsiyano rin. Taga-Davao po kami. Doon po kami lumaki at, tulad ng ibang mga probinsyano, doon rin namin nais bumalik pagkatapos ng aming pagseserbisyo sa bayan,’’ he added.
He beleives that this move would mitigate and resolve long-standing issues in urban areas, especially densely-populated Metro Manila.
These overly congested communities may cause the fast spread of diseases, have poor sanitation facilities, overburdened health care facilities and inefficiencies in the delivery of services, Go observed.
“Malaking factor po sa mabilis na pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa Metro Manila ay ang congestion o overcrowding dito. Ginagawa natin ang lahat para malampasan natin itong krisis ngunit number one na problema talaga natin sa implementasyon ng ating mga assistance programs ay ang congestion sa Metro Manila,’’ Go said.
“Maraming tao rito kaya naman mabilis kumalat ang virus, mas mahirap alagaan ang mga komunidad, at mas mahirap e-manage ang ating resources na maaaring magamit ng ating local government units,’’ he added.
With the idea of “Balik Probinsya” program, Go emphasized that the government could facilitate the decongestion of urban areas, which would help solve perennial problems of overpopulation, heavy traffic, pollution, as well as in preparing for future possible disease outbreaks, other crises and natural disasters later on.
The Mindanaoan senator also said that the proposal would reunite families that have been separated for a long time due to jobs that require employees to relocate to business districts
Go added that bringing families back together in one location could make it easier for the government to implement social amelioration programs considering family units would be located in the same local jurisdictions.
“Tulad po ng mga nangyayari ngayon, napakahirap mag-abot ng tulong dahil ‘yung mga beneficiaries po ng social amelioration program… minsan ay may nakakatanggap sa probinsya na pamilya pero ‘yung mga asawa o isang miyembro ay hindi nakakatanggap dito (sa Maynila) dahil magkahiwalay sila (ng lokasyon,’’ Go said.
According to Go, if we prioritized this proposal, its implementation would result to a more efficient delivery of public goods and services that can benefit all regions and would also lead to a fair development all throughout the country.
“Marami na tayong natututunan sa krisis na ito, tulad ng hirap na dulot ng pagkakumpol kumpol ng tao sa mga siyudad. Simulan na nating paghandaan at tuluyan na nating aksyunan ang isyu na ito at huwag nang intayin na mas lumala pa ang problema,’’ he added.
Go also appealed to businesses and investors to support the proposal by building factories and providing livelihood opportunities in the provinces.
He emphasized that investments in the countryside will provide opportunities to more Filipinos, hence attracting them to eventually go home. This, he said, would also lead to rural development.
“Sa mga negosyante po, sana ay magbukas kayo ng mga factory, planta, o ano pa mang job opportunities sa mga kababayan nating Pilipino na gusto na pong manatili sa kanilang mga probinsya,’’ he said.
“Magtulungan at magbayanihan po tayo para malampasan ang krisis na ito. Sa bawat problema nating hinaharap, oportunidad rin ito na magkaroon ng mas maayos at mas matatag na bansa,’’ he stressed.
The Department of Trade and Industry announced Friday that they would provide incentives for businesses that will open in the provinces to support government's "Balik Probinsya" program.
More Filipinos in Metro Manila can be encouraged to come home to the provinces if there are job opportunities, said Trade Sec. Ramon Lopez.
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