PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reassured the public that following the enactment of the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, the bureau will continue to improve its capabilities in addressing fire-related incidents.
In his video message in a relief operation for four families in Santa Maria, Bulacan on Tuesday, December 7, Senator Go asked the local government units to continue working hand-in-hand with the national government in intensifying efforts to reduce fire-related fatalities and losses.
Go principally authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589 which mandates the bureau to develop a ten-year modernization program that would upgrade its firefighting and rescue capabilities by, among others, recruiting more firefighters, acquiring modern fire equipment and developing specialized training programs.
“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 kapwa kong mambabatas sa mabilisang pagpasa ng batas na ito,” he continued.
The senator’s staff organized the relief operation at Barangay Guyong Covered Court in Sta. Maria where they distributed financial assistance, grocery packs, meals, masks and vitamins to the fire victims. In addition, staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial assistance.
Personnel from the Department of Trade and Industry assessed potential beneficiaries of their Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa Livelihood Program.
Continuing his message, Go promised to remain committed to providing convenient access to quality health care services as he advised the affected families to seek medical care at any of the hospitals in the province where there are Malasakit Centers available to assist them with their medical expenses. The Malasakit Centers are located at the Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria and at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City.
The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, primarily authored and sponsored by Go, mandates all Department of Health-run hospitals and Philippine General Hospital to establish their own Malasakit Centers to assist particularly poor and indigent patients lower their hospital and medical bills to lowest amount possible.
Go then took the opportunity to remind the families to take precautionary measures more seriously to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. He also encouraged those eligible to get vaccinated to further boost their bodies’ immune systems while helping the country attain population protection and eventually herd immunity.
“Pakiusap namin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, kailangan namin ang disiplina at kooperasyon ng bawat Pilipino. Mas mag-ingat tayo, lalo na ngayong may Omicron 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 ended.
To help with the socio-economic development of the province, Go, who serves as Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of a multipurpose building in Plaridel; rehabilitation of the Bulacan State University Activity Center and construction of a multipurpose building in Malolos City; and construction of slope concrete river walls in Barangays Meysulao, Meyto, Bulusan, Santa Lucia, San Jose and San Miguel.
He also supported the construction of drainages, provision of medical equipment for local hospitals, improvement of the Pandi District Hospital, and concretion of a farm-to-market road in San Ildefonso. (OSBG)
