PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s outreach team visited Barangay 73, Caloocan City on Monday, April 25, to extend assistance to two families whose houses were damaged by a recent fire incident. They provided financial aid as well as relief items, such as grocery packs, shirts, masks and meals to the victims.
Apart from the senator’s team, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided cash assistance as part of the government interventions to uplift the lives of Filipinos in crisis situations.
“Ilang beses na po akong bumibisita sa Caloocan, lalo na po sa mga nasunugan. Naiintindihan ko po kung gaano kahirap. Kaya huwag po kayong mag-alala, mga kababayan ko, tuluy-tuloy lang po ang aming pagseserbisyo sa mga nasunugan. Basta po magtiwala lang po tayo sa gobyerno at malalagpasan natin ang krisis na kinakaharap,” expressed Go in a video message.
“Kami po ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, patuloy lang po kami sa pagbibigay ng inyong kinakailangan sa abot ng aming makakaya. Huwag po kayong mahihiya na lumapit sa aking opisina kung may kailangan pa po kayo,” he reassured.
The senator also offered to help those in need of medical care to ensure their well-being. He encouraged them to visit any of the 31 Malasakit Centers across Metro Manila, including Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital located in the city.
Since it was launched in 2018, there are now 151 operational Malasakit Centers nationwide that have assisted more than three million particularly poor and indigent patients with their hospital expenses. The center is a one-stop shop where low-income Filipinos may conveniently avail of medical assistance offered by the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
“Isinulong ko po itong Malasakit Center, batas na po ito na pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Para po ito sa mga mahihirap. Huwag po kayong mahihiya magpatingin ng inyong sakit dahil mahalaga po ang bawat buhay ninyo,” said Go, who primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
In addition, the senator emphasized that the government continues to strengthen its fire prevention efforts as he cited that the Bureau of Fire Protection is currently undergoing a ten-year modernization program following the enactment of the BFP Modernization Act of 2021.
The measure, which was primarily authored and co-sponsored by Go, aims to improve the agency’s firefighting capability by acquiring modern fire equipment, hiring more fire personnel, and providing specialized training programs, among others. It also directs the BFP to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in every local government unit, particularly in informal settlements and economically depressed areas.
“Basta, ‘wag kayong mag-atubiling lumapit sa amin. Huwag din kayong magpasalamat sa amin dahil trabaho naman namin ito ni Pangulong Duterte. Kami ang nagpapasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon para makapagserbisyo sa taumbayan. Ibabalik namin sa inyo ang serbisyong dapat sa inyo,” said Go.
Last April 18, Go’s team provided similar assistance to a family whose house was also razed by fire in Caloocan City. (OSBG)
