QUEZON CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go distributed assistance in the form of grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and shirts to 205 fire-hit household victims in Taytay, Rizal on Friday, May 12.

The office of Senator Go likewise gave away cellular phones, shoes, bags, and balls for basketball and volleyball to selected beneficiaries.

In his video message, Go assured that he remains committed to helping provide a more comfortable life for all and ensuring that no Filipino is left behind toward recovery.

“Alam ko pong mahirap ang panahon ngayon at ito nga po ay nasunugan pa kayo. Pero kami naman po sa gobyerno ay andito lang upang maghatid ng suporta sa abot ng aming makakaya,” Sen. Go said.

“Ang gamit po ay nabibili pero ang buhay po ay hindi. Ang nawalang buhay ay wala na. A lost life is a lost life forever, kaya mag-ingat tayo palagi. Magtulungan lang po tayo, mga kababayan ko. Makakaahon din po tayo muli,” he added.

As Senator Go consistently pushed for stronger fire prevention efforts in the country, he primarily authored and co-sponsored the Republic Act No. 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act to enhance the firefighting capability of the agency.

As mandated by the said law, the bureau is undergoing a ten-year modernization program, which includes acquiring new 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.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial assistance to ensure that the beneficiaries would be able to sustain their needs while they recover from the damages caused by the fire incident.

Senator Go chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and is the principal author of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 also reached out to the residents with health concerns and advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers at Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital, Margarito A. Duavit Memorial Hospital in Binangonan, Casimiro A. Ynares Sr. Memorial Hospital in Rodriguez, and Antipolo City Hospital System Annex IV.

Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops that provide particularly poor and indigent patients with more convenient access to medical assistance programs from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.  Currently, there are 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

Meanwhile, as the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he also supported the construction of a sports complex, the acquisition of an ambulance, and the construction of a drainage canal system.

“So far, natutuwa po akong ibalita sa inyo na three phases na ang napondohan dito sa isinulong natin noong presidente pa po si dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, ang inyong Taytay Sports Complex. Tuluy-tuloy naman po ang paggawa at hopefully makakabalik po ako dito at magagamit na ito ng ating mga kababayan natin dito sa Taytay,” Go said.

“Ako po bilang inyong senador, asahan niyo po na ako ay tutulong sa abot ng aking makakaya. Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa akin, ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo ho ako ng pagkakataon na pagsilbihan po kayong lahat,” he concluded. 

Last March, Go also visited Taytay where he personally led a relief operation for more fire victims. (KSAA - PIA CPSD with information from OSBG)