PASAY CITY -- On Thursday, June 23, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s team visited Quezon City to provide relief to families whose houses were damaged by a recent fire incident in Barangay Commonwealth.
“Alam ko pong mahirap ang panahon ngayon at ito nga po ay nasunugan pa kayo. Pero kami naman po ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay andito lang upang maghatid ng suporta sa abot ng aming makakaya,” Go reassured in his video message.
The senator’s team distributed financial aid and other relief items, including grocery packs, shirts, meals and masks, to 30 affected families at the Soliven Covered Court in Brgy. Commonwealth.
In a separate distribution, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended cash assistance to the families to help them recover.
Meanwhile, Go pushed for better fire prevention efforts from the government. He noted that the country needs more initiatives and measures like Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act to further enhance the firefighting capability of the agency.
As mandated by the Act, BFP undergoes a ten-year modernization program, which includes acquiring modern fire equipment, hiring additional personnel, and providing specialized training for firefighters, among others.
“Karagdagang kagamitan, firefighters at monthly education campaigns para turuan ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat, ‘yan po ang BFP Modernization Act. Bawat bahay na nasusunog, nadadamay ang kapitbahay kaya dapat doble ingat tayo,” stressed Go, who is the principal author and co-sponsor of said law.
Continuing his message, Go offered additional assistance to those in need of medical care. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, he encouraged those with health concerns to visit any of the 11 Malasakit Centers in the city if they need assistance with their hospital bills. There are currently 151 Malasakit Centers operational nationwide.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent patients can conveniently apply for medical assistance from relevant agencies, such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Go is also the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act.
In Quezon City, patients may seek the services of Malasakit Centers at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children's Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children's Hospital, Philippine National Police General Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC).
Go has likewise successfully pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 11501 in 2020, increasing the QMMC’s bed capacity from 500 to 1,000 beds; and R.A. No. 11561 in 2021, increasing the EAMC’s bed capacity from 600 to 1,000 beds.
