PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go reassured victims of fire and other natural disasters that there are Malasakit Centers nationwide ready to provide them medical assistance if needed as his team delivered aid to 110 families who were affected by a fire incident in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa City on Wednesday, April 6.
In a video call during the distribution, Go advised the beneficiaries to visit any of the 31 Malasakit Centers across Metro Manila, including the one at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in the city should they need medical aid from the government.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where patients can conveniently avail of medical aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. To date, there are 151 Malasakit Centers that have helped over three million Filipinos across the country. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
Go’s staff conducted the distribution at the Morning Breeze Covered Court where they gave away grocery packs, vitamins, masks and meals to the affected families.
Select individuals also received new pairs of shoes and bicycles that may be used for their commute, while others were given computer tablets for their children’s education.
"Sa mga estudyante mag-aral kayo nang mabuti. Kayo po ang kinabukasan ng bayang ito. Nakikiusap lang po ako, 'yan po ang puhunan natin sa mundong ito, edukasyon - makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Pangatlo, sasaya ang mga magulang kapag nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral ang anak," said Go.
Meanwhile, the DSWD extended financial support through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program to hasten the victims’ recovery.
The senator also took the opportunity to encourage the eligible beneficiaries to participate in the national inoculation program.
“Mga kababayan ko, may pakiusap lang kami ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte sa inyo, kung hindi pa kayo bakunado magpabakuna na ho kayo. Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay, wala na pong iba," he stressed.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order, the lawmaker then remarked how Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, which he also primarily authored and co-sponsored, will significantly improve BFP’s capability to respond to fire-related incidents.
The law provides for a ten-year modernization program that includes acquiring modern fire equipment, recruiting more firefighters, and developing specialized training, among others.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has likewise extended his support to several infrastructure initiatives across Metro Manila, such as the acquisition of multipurpose vehicles in Muntinlupa City; construction of multipurpose buildings and halls in the cities of Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Quezon and Parañaque; acquisition of ambulance units in the cities of Navotas, Parañaque, Taguig and Valenzuela; rehabilitation of facilities in Navotas Polytechnic College in Navotas City; and construction of a seven-story Valenzuela Center for Academic Excellence in Valenzuela City.
In the end, Go recognized the dedication and hard work of all the local officials and appealed for continued bayanihan efforts, saying, "Tandaan natin, minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na puwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa, gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito.”
"Kami po ni Pangulong Duterte, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil kami po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo po sa tao ay serbisyo po 'yan sa Diyos," concluded the senator. (OSBG)
