PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has once again appealed to the public to remain vigilant against disasters and urged local government units to intensify fire prevention campaigns and efforts in their respective communities as he sent his team to deliver assistance to fire victims in Barangay Quiot, Cebu City on Tuesday, July 12.

“Mga kababayan ko, alam ko po kung gaano kahirap ang pinagdadaanan niyo ngayon. Nasa gitna pa po tayo ng pandemya tapos ngayon po ay nasunugan pa kayo. Pero lagi ko pong sinasabi na mas importante ang buhay ng bawat isa at walang nasaktan,” Go expressed in his video message.

“Ang pera ay kikitain, subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Magtulungan lang tayo, makakabangon rin po tayo,” he added.

As he had successfully pushed for the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act, Go then reassured that the government is continuously working on improving the country’s fire preparedness and response.

“Karagdagang kagamitan, karagdagang firefighters at monthly education campaign para turuan po at ma-educate po sa mga kababayan natin na mag-ingat kasi po bawat bahay na nasusunog, damay ang kapitbahay. Batas na po itong BFP Fire Modernization Act,” Go, primary author and co-sponsor of the measure, explained.

Meanwhile, the senator reminded the affected families to make their health and safety their top priorities especially during crisis situations. He likewise urged those eligible to take advantage of the free vaccines to boost their defenses against COVID-19 while helping their communities attain population protection leading to herd immunity.

“Mga kababayan ko, huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna. Patuloy pa rin po ang ating vaccination roll-out kaya kung hindi pa po kayo bakunado, magpabakuna na po kayo. Ang bakuna po ay ang ating susi pabalik sa normal na pamumuhay,” Go underscored.

“Itong mga bakuna na ito ay pinaghirapan ng gobyerno. Sigurado po itong ligtas at makakatulong sa ating lahat. Kaya nakikiusap po ako na tulungan niyo ang gobyerno na makamtan ang herd immunity sa inyong lugar,” he added.

Go’s team provided grocery packs, vitamins, masks, snacks and shirts to 101 fire victims at the Brgy. Quiot Gymnasium. They also gave select residents phablets, shoes and bicycles.

In addition, the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial assistance while the National Housing Authority further assessed the needs of each affected family and committed to provide necessary housing assistance.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted on-site assessments and provided livelihood support and scholarship grants, respectively, to qualified recipients.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also encouraged those with medical concerns to seek the services of any of two Malasakit Centers in the city located at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and at St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital.

“Ang Malasakit Center po ay batas na at isinulong ko na pinirmahan ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Tutulungan ho kayo hanggang maging zero balance ang bill niyo. Para po ito sa mga poor and indigent patients. Meron na po ng 151 na Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas, lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center diyan po sa inyong lugar,” encouraged Go, who is also the primary author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

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

Meanwhile, Go recently sponsored a bill which seeks to increase the bed capacity of the VSMMC from 1,200 to 1,500 beds. It was approved on the third and final reading in the Senate last January, together with 14 other local hospital bills which Go likewise sponsored.

“Mga kababayan ko, mahal na mahal ko po kayo. Mga magka-kapitbahay lang naman po tayo, mga kapwa bisaya. Magtulungan lang po tayo. Sino ba namang magtutulungan kung hindi tayo, mga kapwa nating Pilipino,” Go remarked.

“Kahit po tapos na po ang termino ni dating pangulong Duterte, asahan niyo po na ako naman ay patuloy niyong magiging kasangga sa Senado at pagsisilbihan kayo sa abot nang aking makakaya,” he reassured.

Last June 27, Go’s team also provided similar assistance to more fire victims in the city. (OSBG)