PASAY CITY -- On Saturday, July 10, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go sent his team to distribute assistance to families affected by the recent fire incident in Barangay San Vicente, Tarlac City as part of his commitment to help communities recover from various crisis situations.

“Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang ho tayo, magmalasakit ho tayo, at magbayanihan po tayo. Ang gamit po’y nabibili natin, subalit ang pera pong kikitain ay hindi nabibili ang buhay,” said Go in his video message.

Go’s outreach team conducted the distribution activity at the Barangay Hall of San Vicente, where three families received financial assistance, grocery packs, meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins. Go’s staff implemented the necessary safety and health protocols to ensure the well-being of the fire victims.

Furthermore, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development granted each beneficiary with additional financial assistance, and grocery packs through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Go, as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, offered more assistance as he encouraged beneficiaries or their loved ones with health concerns to visit the nearest Malasakit Center in Tarlac Provincial Hospital if they may need any medical assistance.

The center is a one-stop shop that puts together agencies, such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, under one roof to provide poor and indigent patients convenient access to medical programs which will assist them to reduce their medical expenses to the lowest amount possible. There are currently 128 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

"Batas na po ‘yang isinulong ko noon, pinirmahan ni Pangulong Duterte. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center, para po ‘yan sa Pilipino. Wala pong pinipili ang Malasakit Center, handang tumulong sa ating mahihirap, lapitan niyo lang po," said Go.

The Senator reminded the beneficiaries to continue observing necessary health preventive measures, such as frequent washing of hands, maintaining social distance, wearing of masks and face shields when in public, and avoiding non-essential travels.

Go reassured them that the government is exerting great efforts to provide Filipinos with safe and sufficient vaccines. He, then, encouraged the beneficiaries to take part in the vaccination program to protect them against COVID-19.

“Mga kababayan ko, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Ang target po natin, makamtan ngayong taong ito ay population protection at herd immunity po para naman po unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” said Go.

As the Senator acknowledged the challenges brought about by fires and other crisis situations, Go continues to push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1832, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act.

Under the said measure, it seeks to improve the capabilities of the BFP by implementing a modernization program, which includes recruiting more firefighters, acquiring new fire equipment, and developing specialized trainings, and many others.

“Alam ko pong nahirapan kayo. Kami rin po ni Pangulong Duterte ay nahirapan din po. Subalit kailangan nating magtulungan. Kayo po ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin upang malampasan natin itong krisis na ating kinakaharap,” Go expressed.

To boost development in Tarlac, Go supported the funding of various infrastructure projects to help provide more economic opportunities in the province. Among the projects are several road constructions and improvements in Barangays Sto. Domingo, Tibag, Armenia, Tibagan, Balanti, Moriones, San Jose de Urquico, Baras-Baras, Sto. Niño; and rehabilitation of flood control structures along the left and right side of Moriones River, among others.

The Senator also helped in road constructions in the municipalities of Bamban, Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Pura, Santa Ignacia, San Jose, and Victoria; construction of multi-purpose buildings in San Manuel and Victoria; acquisition of one ambulance unit in Bamban; and provision of two units of mini-dump trucks in La Paz, and one unit in San Manuel.

Ending his remarks, Go commended the local government officials of Tarlac for their dedication and commitment to help their community recover amid the global pandemic. (OSBG)