PASAY CITY -- 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 as he sent his team to provide aid to fire victims in Barangay Guadalupe in Cebu City and Brgy. Basak and Pajo in Lapu-Lapu City on Tuesday, July 26.

"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, at 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 continued.

Go’s team provided grocery packs, vitamins, masks, snacks and shirts to 45 families affected by the recent fire at the Banawe Elementary School in Cebu City and City Social Welfare Development Office building in Lapu-Lapu City. 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 encouraged those with medical concerns to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers in their respective cities, such as those at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital in Cebu City, and Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital.

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

“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.

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.

From July 25 to 26, Go’s outreach team also mounted a series of relief activities in Moalboal, Cebu for the town’s struggling residents who have been adversely affected by the ongoing global health crisis. Last July 20, Go's team likewise assisted 57 families affected by a fire incident in Brgy. Duljo Fatima, Cebu City. (OSBG)