PASAY CITY -- On Friday, November 5, the Office of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, in partnership with the National Housing Authority, distributed assistance to a total of 28 fire victims whose homes were affected by a recent fire incident in Barangay Bahay Toro in Quezon City.

The senator's staff provided each affected household with meals, masks and vitamins while representatives from NHA handed out housing assistance through the agency's Emergency Housing Assistance Program.

Go’s team organized the relief operation at Brgy. Bahay Toro Covered Court and strictly enforced necessary safety and health protocols to safeguard the residents from the threat of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Go expressed his confidence in his video message that after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021 into law, the bureau will be more capable in preventing and responding to fire-related accidents and injuries.

Go principally authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589 which mandates the BFP to implement a modernization program, the components of which will include the acquisition of new fire equipment, hiring of more firefighters, and provision of specialized training, among others.

“Paulit-ulit namin sinasabi ni Pangulong Duterte na ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng taong bayan ang aming pinaka-unang prayoridad. Kaakibat riyan ay ang pagsiguro ng kinakailangang kagamitan sa pagresponde sa oras ng sakuna at dekalidad at naaayon sa international standards,” explained Go.

“Ibig sabihin, karagdagang fire fighters at modernong kagamitan. Of course, importante din ‘yung monthly education campaigns dahil bawat bahay na nasusunog, damay ang kapitbahay. Kawawa ang mga kababayan natin lalo na sa rural areas at mga illegal settlers na dikit-dikit ‘yung bahay. Kailangan natin silang paalalahanan, turuan na mag-ingat,” he urged.

Go, who serves as Chair of Senate Committee on Health and Demography, assured the fire victims that as the vaccination roll-out expands to the general population, the government will still prioritize inoculating the poor and other vulnerable groups.

“Huwag po kayong mag-alala, sisiguraduhin po namin ni Pangulong Duterte na walang mapapabayaan lalo na lahat po ng mahihirap. Sana po makabalik na tayo unti-unti sa normal nating pamumuhay,” Go said.

“Hinihimok ko po ang gobyerno na patuloy nating pabilisin ang pagbabakuna sa ating mga kababayan upang agaran din nating makamit ang inaasam nating herd immunity sa paraang maayos at ligtas,” he added.

Go offered to assist any resident in need of medical attention and advised them to avail of medical assistance from the government through any of the 11 Malasakit Centers in the city.

The center is a one-stop shop initiated by Go and now institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which provides convenient access to the medical assistance programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The Malasakit Centers are located at Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and Philippine National Police General Hospital.

The senator continued his message by recognizing the local officials of Quezon City who provided assistance to the affected families. He also appealed to the local officials to continue supporting their constituents until they are fully recovered from the challenges brought by the pandemic.

“Kami naman po ni Pangulong Duterte ay handang magserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aming makakaya. Magtiwala lang tayo sa gobyerno, magtulungan lang tayo,” said Go.

“Alam ko po na hirap kayo, hirap din po kami ni Pangulong Duterte. Kayo po ang nagbibigay ng lakas sa amin para po makapagserbisyo po kami upang malampasan natin itong pandemyang ito,” he added.

Go also authored and sponsored Senate Bill No. 2393, otherwise known as the Rental Housing Subsidy Act of 2021, to provide Filipinos a way to have their own homes, especially those who were displaced by natural and man-made disasters.

“Sa pag-iikot ko at pagbibigay tulong sa mga kababayan nating nasunugan, I have witnessed, first-hand, the worsening situation of the lives of our fellow countrymen, especially those who have no permanent place to call home,” said Go earlier.

To alleviate homelessness in the country, Senator Go filed SBN 2393 that aims to develop a housing and social protection program to ensure eligible Informal Settlers Beneficiaries can conveniently access the formal housing market by offering a rental subsidy.

“Now, more than ever, we need to provide homes for displaced families and help them sustain livelihoods by offering various options during the interim process of construction and relocation,” he continued. (OSBG)