PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed concern over the recurring incidence of house fires in the country and appealed for stronger fire prevention measures to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and damages incurred during such incidents.
In a video message during a relief activity in Iloilo City on Wednesday, April 13, Go urged local government leaders to exert greater effort to promote home fire safety measures in their communities and to allow their constituents to learn firsthand from respected authorities.
“Importante na suportahan natin ang kampanya kontra sunog upang maiwasan ang ganitong kataas na bilang ng mga insidente at makapagligtas ng buhay. Madalas tayong bumababa sa mga nasusunugan at nakikita ko ang hirap ng ating mga kababayan. Kahit isang bahay lang ang masunog, damay pati ang kapitbahay,” said Go, who is the principal author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 11589, which provides for the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection.
“Kaya mag-ingat tayo parati. Ang gamit nabibili natin, ang pera kikitain natin. Pero ang perang kikitain ay hindi mabibili ang buhay. Pakiusap ko, maging alerto at magtulungan tayo para maiwasan natin maulit ang mga ganitong insidente,” he added.
The senator’s team distributed snacks, food packs and masks to a total of 51 families at the Barangay Tanza Timawa Barangay Hall. They gave select individuals new pairs of shoes and provided others with computer tablets to help their children study better.
As part of the government’s response to the incident, the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial aid. The Department of Trade and Industry, National Housing Authority, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments for their respective assistance programs.
Go likewise offered additional support to those who are in need of medical care. He advised them to apply for government aid at the Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop which brings together the offices of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under one roof.
The Malasakit Centers in the province are located at the Western Visayas Medical Center and West Visayas State University Medical Center in Iloilo City, Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital (DJSMMCEH) in Barotac Nuevo, and Western Visayas Sanitarium (WVS) in Santa Barbara.
“Sa mga pasyente, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ito sa inyo. Kung may bill kayo, nandiyan ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para mabayaran ito. At kung may naiwang balanse, may iniwan rin na pondo ang Office of the President para wala na kayong babayaran sa inyong pagpapaospital,” explained Go.
“Ngayon, kung hindi naman niyo kayang magamot diyan, tutulungan namin kayo. Kami na ng Pangulo ang sasagot sa inyong pagpapaospital kung kakailanganing dalhin kayo dito sa Maynila,” he offered.
In the meantime, the senator reminded everyone eligible, particularly those with underlying conditions, to get inoculated against COVID-19 and take extra steps to safeguard their health. He also urged vaccinated individuals to continue adhering to health and safety protocols.
“Kailangan namin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ang kooperasyon ninyo upang malampasan natin ang krisis na ito. Huwag tayo maging kumpiyansa. Kahit na nabakunahan na kayo, magsuot pa rin tayo ng mask at mag-social distancing dahil hindi natin alam kung sino ang positibo sa COVID-19,” he appealed.
On this note, the lawmaker expressed gratitude to the local officials for their efforts to rebuild the affected community.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported various infrastructure initiatives that aim to improve the delivery of basic services in the province, such as the completion of various barangay health stations throughout Iloilo City and construction of a multipurpose building in the Iloilo City Public Market.
Other major initiatives include the concreting or construction of roads in Badiangan, Banate, Carles, Dumangas, Lemery, Miag-ao and Sara; construction of multipurpose buildings in Barotac Viejo; completion of the barangay health stations in Leon; construction of a flood control system in Balasan; construction of a seawall in Banate; construction of the legislative building complete with facilities in San Dionisio; and improvement of the public parks in Dueñas.
Recently, Go sponsored a bill that seeks to increase the bed capacity and convert the WVS into the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital and another to upgrade the DJSMMCEH into a tertiary hospital to be known as the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center.
The bills were approved on the third and final reading in the Senate last January 31. (OSBG)
