PASAY CITY -- Following the recent enactment of Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to all local government units to continue strengthening their efforts to reduce fire-related fatalities and losses, especially in poor communities.

On Thursday, October 7, the senator sent his staff to hand out assistance to two displaced families in Barangay Coronon, Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur as part of Go’s efforts to help fire victims recover.

The senator’s staff distributed meals, financial assistance, food packs, vitamins, masks, and face shields. In addition, staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial assistance to further help them rebuild their homes.

In his video message, Go reiterated the importance of enhancing and upgrading the capabilities of BFP in addressing fire-related incidents. For this reason, the senator principally authored and co-sponsored of Republic Act No. 11589 which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last September 10.

The said law mandates the bureau to develop a ten-year modernization program that would improve its firefighting and rescue capabilities by recruiting more firefighters, acquiring modern fire equipment, and developing specialized training programs, among others.

“Saksi ako sa hinagpis na nararamdaman ng mga biktima ng sunog. Kada buwan, ilang komunidad ang ating binibisita upang makapagbigay ng tulong. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na maging handa sa oras ng sakuna kaya nag-file ako ng batas para mabigyan ng karagdagang kagamitan at personnel ang ating Bureau of Fire Protection,” Go said.

“Dapat paghandaan natin ang anumang krisis o sakuna. Kaya naman nagpapasalamat ako kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at sa aking kapwa kong mambabatas sa mabilisang pagpasa ng batas na ito,” he continued.

As Go recently joined the Vice-Presidential race, he reaffirmed his commitment to providing Filipinos with convenient access to quality and affordable health care services. He then advised the public to seek medical care at Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Digos City or at Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City where there are Malasakit Centers ready to assist them with their medical expenses.

The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, also primarily authored and sponsored by Go, mandates all hospitals managed and administered by the Department of Health, plus Philippine General Hospital, to establish their own Malasakit Center to ensure that particularly poor and indigent patients have access to medical assistance programs by the government.

Being the Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go reminded the families to follow necessary health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He also urged them to get vaccinated to help the country attain population protection leading to herd immunity soon.

“Pakiusap namin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, kailangan namin ang disiplina at kooperasyon ng bawat Pilipino. Mas mag-ingat tayo, lalo na ngayong may Delta variant. Hindi namin kakayanin ito mag-isa,” said Go.

“At magpabakuna kayo. Magtiwala at ‘wag kayo matakot sa bakuna. Libre naman ito. Ang bakuna ang susi para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” he added.

To ensure the faster socio-economic development of the community, Go, who serves as Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported the road concretion, and the installation of LED streetlights in Santa Cruz, among other infrastructure initiatives in the country to promote regional development. (OSBG)