PASAY CITY -- As he sent his team to provide aid to fire victims in Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City on Wednesday, July 20, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go once again urged the public to be more vigilant against disasters and urged local government units to intensify the fire prevention efforts in their respective communities.

"Ang ating dila, iisa lang, mga Bisaya naman tayong lahat, mga kapatid, magtulungan lang tayo. Sino ba naman ang magtutulungan kung ‘di tayo lang magkakapatid na Pilipino. ‘Wag kayong matakot,” said Go in a video message.

“Sa mga nasunugan, ang mahalaga buhay tayo, walang nasaktan. Ang gamit naman po ay mabibili natin ‘yan. Ang pera ay kikitain natin, pero ang pera na ating kikitain ay hindi mabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya magtulungan lang tayo mga kapatid, kaya natin itong malampasan,” he added.

As he had successfully authored and co-sponsored 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.

Meanwhile, the senator reminded the affected families to make 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.

The senator also shared that he is pushing for the establishment of Super Health Centers throughout the country as he seeks to further improve the Filipino people’s access to government health services, especially during the pandemic and other similar health crises.

“Mayroon akong inisyatibo na Super Health Center. Mayroon tayong ilalagay na Super Health Center sa Borbon, mayroon rin sa Cordova sa Danao, sa Lapu-lapu, sa Mandaue, sa Samboan, sa Moalboal, sa San Francisco,” said Go.

“Itong Super Health Center, ito s’ya ‘yung medyo may kalakihan sa (barangay) health center pero medyo maliit sa ospital. Mayroong pasilidad na makakapagpagamot sa may sakit at makakapagpa-check up kaagad sa kanilang mga health center. So tandaan n’yo, ‘yan ang tinatawag na Super Health Center,” he added.

Go’s team provided grocery packs, vitamins, masks, snacks and shirts to 57 families affected by the recent fire at the Duljo-Fatima Sports Complex. They also gave select residents phablets, shoes, bicycles, and balls for volleyball and basketball.

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 the 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 pong 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 kapatid, tandaan ninyo minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung anuman kabutihan o tulong na pwede natin gawin sa ating kapwa tao ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” said Go.

“Patuloy akong magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Diyos. Mga taga Cebu tandaan ninyo, mahal na mahal ko po kayo,” he ended.

Last July 12, Go's team also assisted 101 fire victims in Brgy. Quiot, Cebu City. (OSBG)