PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized the importance of having an intensified government fire response, even during the rainy season, as the country is known to be prone to fire incidents. He urged communities to heighten fire prevention information campaigns to lessen the risk of such accidents.

On Saturday, June 18, Go expressed his concern to 170 fire victims from Barangay Ermita, Cebu City. In a video conference call, the senator reminded the affected families to remain optimistic as he reaffirmed that together with concerned agencies, he will continue to support the recovery of fire and disaster victims.

“Alam kong hirap kayo ngayon at nasunugan pa kayo. Huwag kayong mag-alala, mga kapatid kong Bisaya, magtulungan lang tayo at malalampasan din natin ito. Nasa krisis (pa tayo dulot ng) COVID-19 at nasunugan pa kayo,” encouraged Go.

“Kami ni Presidente Duterte, Bisaya din kami at ginagawa namin lahat para matulungan namin kayong lahat. Mga kababayan, uulitin ko lang, ang gamit mabibili 'yan at ang pera kikitain natin 'yan pero ang perang kikitain natin hindi makabibili ng buhay. Kaya magtulungan lang tayo, malampasan natin ito,” he added.

The lawmaker, who is also the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order, cited how the Republic Act No. 11589, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, will significantly improve BFP’s capability to respond to fire-related incidents.

The Act, which Go primarily authored and co-sponsored, mandates the BFP to undergo a ten-year modernization program which includes acquiring modern fire equipment, recruiting more firefighters, and developing specialized trainings, among others.

“Palagi kong inaasam ang kaligtasan ng bansa sa kahit anumang sakuna. Kaya itong pagmo-modernisa ng BFP ay isa lamang sa mga hinahangad kong pagbabago sa bansa kaya naman nagpapasalamat ako kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa pagsasatupad nito,” Go expressed.

Go’s outreach team mounted the distribution at the Barangay Ermita gymnasium wherein they provided grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and meals to the fire victims. Furthermore, they also provided phablets, bicycles, shoes, and balls for volleyball and basketball to select recipients.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. The National Housing Department, in turn, assessed the needs of the families and extended further necessary housing assistance.

Representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority were also present and gave livelihood support and scholarship grants to qualified recipients.

The senator then took the opportunity to urge those who are eligible to participate in the national vaccination program, saying, “Huwag niyo pong sayangin ang oportunidad na magpabakuna. Libre naman po ito at pinaghirapan ito ng gobyerno. Kaya magpabakuna na po kayo, mga kababayan ko.”

More so, Go likewise offered assistance to those in need of health care. He encouraged Cebuanos to visit any of the six Malasakit Centers in the province, including Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, which are both located in the city.

A one-stop shop and a brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Center was first established in VSMMC which aimed to provide convenient access to medical assistance programs by relevant agencies. To date, there are 151 Malasakit Centers that have helped over three million Filipinos nationwide. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

“Batas na itong Malasakit Center na pinirmahan ni Presidente Duterte na aking isinulong noon. Ang Malasakit Center ay handang tumulong sa poor and indigente patients, zero balance ang target ng Malasakit Center,” Go explained.

Other Malasakit Centers in Cebu are located at Eversley Childs Sanitarium Hospital in Mandaue City; Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City; Lapu-Lapu District Hospital in Lapu-Lapu City; and Cebu Provincial Hospital-Carcar in Carcar City.

To further improve VSMMC’s health care system, Go also sponsored a bill which will increase the bed capacity of the VSMMC from 1,200 to 1,500 beds.

Go thanked the local officials of Cebu for making certain that disaster victims are well-supported, particularly during these trying times.

“Tandaan ninyo minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung anuman kabutihan o tulong na pwede natin gawin sa atin kapwa tao ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Kami ni Presidente Duterte ay patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil para sa amin ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo yan sa Diyos,” he concluded.

Last June 14 and 15, the senator’s team mounted a series of relief activities for more than a thousand indigents in Moalboal, Cebu. (OSBG)