THE Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided much-needed assistance to 83 fire-hit households in Barangay 215, Tondo, Manila City.

Held at Brgy. 215 Hall, Go’s team distributed cash assistance, vitamins, canned goods, grocery packs, meals and masks to each affected household. In addition, select individuals received new pairs of shoes, bicycles and phablets.

To further help the fire victims rebuild their lives, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended separate financial assistance. The National Housing Authority, in turn, assessed the needs of each household and committed to provide necessary aid through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program.

In his message, Go remarked that following the enactment of the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, the agency will be more ready and equipped in responding to fire-related incidents.

Under Republic Act No. 11589, which was primarily authored and co-sponsored by Go, BFP is mandated to undergo a ten-year modernization program, that includes the acquisition of new fire equipment, hiring of more firefighters, and provision of specialized training, among others.

“Kumusta po kayo mga kababayan ko? Sana po’y walang nasaktan… Tandaan natin, ang gamit po’y nabibili naman. Ang pera po’y kikitain natin subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever,” Go said.

“Kaya mga kababayan ko, mag-ingat kayo dahil bawat bahay na nasusunog, nadadamay po ang kapitbahay. Magtulungan lang tayo. Huwag ho kayong mawalan ng pag-asa,” he encouraged.

As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also reassured the affected families that the government continues to intensify its inoculation efforts to protect more Filipinos from COVID-19. He then urged those eligible to participate in the national vaccination drive to significantly help the country attain herd immunity.

“Kung hindi pa po kayo bakunado, magpabakuna na po kayo. Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” underscored Go.

“At, of course, ang inyong kooperasyon. Huwag maging kumpiyansa pa rin. Magsuot kayo ng face mask at social distancing pa rin po tayo,” he reminded.

Go then offered additional aid to the beneficiaries in need of medical care. He also encouraged them to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers near them.

A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops to help particularly poor and indigent patients conveniently access medical aid from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. It was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go also primarily authored and sponsored.

The Malasakit Centers in the city are located at Tondo Medical Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Hospital, and San Lazaro Hospital.

The senator then thanked the local officials for extending necessary assistance to the affected families.

“Nandirito lang po ako na handang tumulong sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Hindi po ako mangangako sa inyo na kaya kong gawin lahat. Ngunit, sisikapin ko po ang lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya at nandirito lang po ako na handang magserbisyo sa inyo,” he concluded.

To help in the development of the city, Go, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the road improvement along Tayuman Street to Dagupan, construction of a three-story multipurpose building in Malacañang Park, and the structural improvement of public buildings and construction of evacuation centers, among others.

He also supported the acquisition of medical supplies, multipurpose vehicles, rescue patrol service van, and educational supplies for the city government.

On May 18, Go personally visited and led the distribution of assistance to more than a hundred fire victims in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Meanwhile, his team provided similar assistance to more fire victims in Sampaloc on May 19.