PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday, February 16, sympathized with the families whose houses were damaged in a fire in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur as his team organized an activity to help them recover from the incident.
“Mga kababayan, saksi po ako sa hinagpis na nararamdaman ng mga nabiktima ng sunog. Buwan-buwan, bago ang pandemya, ilang insidente ng sunog ang aming binibisita sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa upang makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga kababayan nating nabiktima nito,” Go said in a video message.
The senator’s staff provided financial assistance, food packs, snacks and masks to a total of 118 fire victims at the city gymnasium. They gave selected individuals new shoes or bicycles for traveling and computer tablets to help their children with their blended learning activities.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided separate financial assistance. The Department of Trade and Industry and the National Housing Authority, meanwhile, conducted assessments for their respective livelihood and emergency housing assistance programs. Earlier, the Department of Health handed out hygiene kits.
Continuing his message, Go assured that all fire protection services will be enhanced as part of the modernization program of the Bureau of Fire Protection. The BFP will acquire new modern fire equipment, hire additional personnel, and provide specialized training for firefighters as mandated under Republic Act No. 11589, which the lawmaker primarily authored and co-sponsored in the Senate.
The BFP will also conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in every local government unit, particularly in informal settlements, economically depressed areas, and far-flung communities.
"Karagdagang kagamitan, firefighters at monthly education campaigns para turuan ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat, ‘yan po ang BFP Modernization Act. Dahil bawat bahay na nasusunog, nadadamay ang kapitbahay. Kaya dapat doble ingat tayo,” stressed Go.
The senator then reminded the victims, especially those staying in evacuation shelters, to keep observing the mandated health and safety protocols. He offered to assist those in need of medical care and informed them that they may avail of the services of the Malasakit Center at the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in the city or Lianga District Hospital in Lianga town.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which brings together under one roof relevant agencies, namely, the DOH, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The centers have assisted over three million particularly poor and indigent patients since Go launched the program in 2018. There are currently 149 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
In the end, he thanked the local officials and first responders led by Mayor Roxanne Pimentel for their quick response and for the support they provided to the affected residents.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the lawmaker has also supported numerous initiatives to boost the economic development of Surigao del Sur, such as the construction of a flood control and drainage system in Barangay Rosario, construction of a road from Barangays Maticdum to Maitom, and concreting of the Barangays San Isidro to Maticdum farm-to-market road in Tandag City.
