PASAY CITY -- On Tuesday, November 30, the Office of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, distributed assistance to a total of 49 families whose homes were affected by recent fire incidents in Brgy. Nangka in Marikina City and Brgy. Holy Spirit in Quezon City.
The senator's staff provided each affected household with financial assistance, grocery packs, meals, masks and vitamins while representatives from DSWD handed out separate financial assistance through the agency's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Go’s team organized the relief operation at Brgy. Bahay Toro Covered Court and Brgy. Hall of Brgy. Nangka where they strictly enforced necessary safety and health protocols to safeguard the residents from the threat of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Go, in his video message, expressed his confidence 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 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 the 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 especially for their scheduled booster shots.
“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 Malasakit Centers in the National Capital Region.
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. In Marikina City, the Malasakit Center is located at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center.
