PASAY CITY -- On Monday, October 25, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go had his team visit Barangay Matandang Balara, Quezon City and Brgy. 649 in Manila to distribute assistance to households affected by recent fire incidents that hit their respective communities.

“Mga kababayan, sana nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. Alam namin mahirap ang panahon ngayon dahil sa mga iba’t ibang krisis na ating hinaharap pero kapit lang tayo. Hindi kayo pababayaan ng gobyernong ito. Malalampasan natin ang kahit anong pagsubok basta nagtutulungan at nagbabayanihan tayo,” Go said in his video message.

Go’s team handed out relief items, such as financial assistance, grocery packs, meals, masks, face shields and vitamins to a total of 19 families in their respective barangay halls.

In a separate distribution, a team from the National Housing Authority gave housing assistance to two families in Brgy. Matandang Balara, Quezon City while the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided additional financial assistance to 17 affected households in Brgy. 649, Manila.

To lessen the occurrence of and mitigate damages due to fire-related incidents, Go principally authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 1832, also known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act, which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last September 10. The bill mandates the Bureau of Fire Protection to implement a modernization program that shall include the acquisition of new fire equipment, hiring of additional personnel, and provision of specialized training for firefighters.

It also directs the BFP to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units.

“Hindi lamang po ang pag-modernize ng ating equipment ang makatutulong sa paglaban sa mga sunog. Mahalaga rin dito ang fire safety education. ‘Yung atin dito, kung papaano i-prevent at maturuan ang mga kababayan natin kung paano ba maiiwasan ang mga sunog,” explained Go.

Go, who is also the Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, mentioned in his video message that there are Malasakit Centers across Metro Manila that they can visit that would assist them with their medical expenses. On that same day, Go personally witnessed the launch of the 29th Malasakit Center in Metro Manila at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Quezon City.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where Filipino patients can conveniently avail of medical assistance from the concerned government agencies, namely the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The program has benefited over three million Filipinos nationwide since its launch in 2018.

To end, the senator recognized the local officials of each city for working together to assist families and rebuild their communities amid the national health crisis.

“Huwag sana kayong mawalan ng pag-asa dahil nandirito ang gobyerno para tulungan kayong makabangon muli. Lapitan niyo ako kung may iba pa kaming maitutulong. Patuloy kami ni Pangulong Duterte na magseserbisyo sa inyo sa abot na aming makakaya,” reassured Go.

As part of his commitment as Vice Chair of Senate on Finance, Go supported the construction of an advanced Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Vertical Expansion of New ER Building in East Avenue Medical City; rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Road Network and Veterans Memorial Medical Center Road Network; construction of several multi-purpose buildings in various barangays; and construction and improvement of drainage systems in Brgys. Gulod and Talayan.

Go also supported various projects in Pasig City, such as the improvement of Rizal Medical Center, acquisition of medical equipment for RMC, and the construction of a seven-storey multi-specialty building inside RMC.

Likewise, he extended help in the construction of multi-purpose buildings and halls in Caloocan City, Mandaluyong City and Parañaque City; acquisition of ambulance units in Manila, Navotas City, Parañaque City, Taguig City and Valenzuela City; acquisition of multi-purpose vehicles in Manila and Muntinlupa City; rehabilitation of facilities in Navotas Polytechnic College in Navotas; and construction of a seven-storey Valenzuela Center for Academic Excellence in Valenzuela. (OSBG)