PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s outreach team mounted relief operations for 18 families whose houses were razed in separate fire incidents in Bocaue and Obando, Bulacan on Friday, February 11.

Go’s staff provided financial assistance, meals, food packs and masks to the victims at the Biñang 1st Barangay Hall in Bocaue and Pag-asa Barangay Hall in Obando. Select individuals in Bocaue also received a bicycle and a computer tablet.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided separate cash assistance to each affected family.

In a video message, Go vowed to continue supporting communities in distress for their faster recovery. He then reassured that the country’s fire protection services will improve through the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act.

"Nakikita ko ang hirap ng ating mga kababayan. Kahit isang bahay lang ang masunog, damay pati ang kapitbahay. Maraming pamilya ang apektado kaya dapat na palakasin natin ang kapasidad ng BFP sa pagreresponde sa sunog," he noted.

Go is the principal author and co-sponsor of RA No. 11589 which provides for the acquisition of modern fire equipment, expansion of BFP's manpower, and provision of highly-specialized training to firefighters, among others. The law also mandates BFP to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in every local government unit.

Meanwhile, the senator offered additional aid to those needing medical attention. He encouraged them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center at the Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria or at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City.

Institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go also primarily authored and sponsored, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail of medical assistance from concerned agencies, including DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Sinimulan namin ang programang ito dahil ayaw naming pinapahirapan kayo. Dito niyo makikita ang puso ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte para sa mga mahihirap. Binabalik namin ang pera ninyo sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mas mabilis at maayos na serbisyo,” remarked Go.

“Masaya akong sunud-sunod ang pagbubukas ng mga Malasakit Centers. Tiwala ako na magiging malaking tulong ito sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga walang matakbuhan at maaasahan kundi ang gobyerno,” he added.

In the end, the lawmaker expressed gratitude towards the local leaders for their quick response and continued bayanihan amid challenges caused by the pandemic and other calamities.

Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has also supported projects to boost the economic development in the province, such as the acquisition of an ambulance unit and streetlights for Meycauayan City; the construction of a multipurpose building in Meycauayan City, Plaridel and Malolos City; the rehabilitation of the Bulacan State University Activity Center in Malolos City; and the construction of slope concrete river walls in Barangays Meysulao, Meyto, Bulusan, Santa Lucia, San Jose and San Miguel in Calumpit.

He was also instrumental in the construction of drainages, provision of medical equipment for local hospitals, improvement of the Pandi District Hospital, and concreting of a farm-to-market road in San Ildefonso.

In addition, Go sponsored several bills to improve and establish more public hospitals across the country, including the Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bocaue.

Previously, the senator had also assisted fire victims in the town of Sta. Maria. (OSBG)