PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues to help fire-hit communities build back better as he sent his team to Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Thursday, December 3, to deliver immediate assistance to the victims.

Go’s team conducted the relief operation at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex where they provided meals and masks to 275 fire victims.

In a separate distribution, the National Housing Authority provided the families with housing assistance under its Emergency Housing Assistance Program. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, meanwhile, assessed those who may be eligible for their respective support programs.

“Sa mga kababayan ko naman po na nasunugan, huwag ho kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Ang gamit po’y nabibili, ang pera po’y kikitain natin, magsipag lang tayo. Subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay,” said Go in his video message.

The senator expressed optimism that the Bureau of Fire Protection will be more efficient and effective in addressing fire-related accidents following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11589, otherwise known as the “BFP Modernization Act of 2021”. He authored and co-sponsored the measure in the Senate.

As one of Go’s priority measures when he became senator, RA 11589 is expected to transform the bureau into a world-class institution through the implementation of a modernization program that will include the recruitment of more firefighters, provision of specialized training, and upgrade and acquisition of new fire equipment.

“To better protect Filipinos, we need to further strengthen the Bureau of Fire Protection by improving its services and capabilities so that it can efficiently and effectively respond to incidents and other catastrophes,” Go explained.

Go then reminded the fire victims to continue adhering to the health protocols and urged them to get inoculated once eligible to increase their bodies’ defenses against COVID-19.

Go also offered assistance to those with health concerns and urged them to visit any of the 149 Malasakit Centers in the country should they need help paying their hospital bills.

First established in Cebu in 2018 at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where Filipinos, particularly poor and indigent patients, can conveniently access medical programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Since then, other Malasakit Centers in Cebu have opened at the Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital, Talisay District Hospital, St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, and Cebu Provincial Hospital.

"Walay gipili ang Malasakit Center. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka sa Malasakit Center. Para ni sa tanang pobre ug kabus nga pasyente. Para sa inyo na," Go said.

(“Wala pong pinipili ang Malasakit Center. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Para po 'yan sa poor and indigent patients. Inyo po 'yan.”)

"Kung nag kinahanglan mog tabang sa Heart Center sa Maynila, pagsulti lang mo kay tabangan mo namo. Kami na ang motubag sa inyong pagpaospital kung kinahanglan gyud dad-on sa Maynila," he added.

(“Kung kailangan n’yo po ng tulong sa Heart Center sa Maynila, magsabi lang ho kayo. Tutulungan ho namin kayo. Kami na ho ang sasagot sa inyong pagpapaospital kung kakailanganin pong dalhin sa Maynila.”)

As the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also supported several projects in the province to help boost its economic recovery. Among these is the purchase of multipurpose vehicles for Lapu-Lapu City.

He also supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Barili, Cordova, Ginatilan, Pilar, Tabogon and Talisay City; improvement of existing roads in Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Asturias, Balamban, Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Madridejos, Malabuyoc, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Pinamungajan, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Carcar City and Naga City; improvement of flood mitigation structures in Catmon and Tuburan; installation of street lights in Asturias, Compostela and Daanbantayan; and acquisition of ambulance units for Madridejos and Naga City.

"Mga kaigsuonan, mga Bisaya, daghang salamat sa inyong tabang sa amoa ni Presidente Duterte. Kami pud, mga Bisaya man pud mi, utang kabubut-on, dili kalimtan. Ug timan-i ninyo, mga Bisaya, pinalangga mo namo ni Presidente Duterte," he earlier said.

(Translation: "Sa mga kapatid ko, mga Bisaya, maraming salamat sa inyong tulong sa amin ni Presidente Duterte. Kami rin, mga Bisaya rin kami, utang na loob, hindi nalilimutan. At tandaan ninyo, mga Bisaya, mahal namin kayo ni Presidente Duterte.") (OSBG)