SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go consistently highlights the importance of fire prevention and safety campaigns in communities as he dispatched his Malasakit Team to assist fire-hit households in Baguio City.

In his video message, the senator recognized the country’s firefighters for their sacrifices and immediate action in fire emergencies. For this reason, he successfully pushed for the enactment of Republic Act No. 11589, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, to mitigate the occurrence of and lessen the severity of damages from fire-related incidents in the country.

“‘Yung mga nasunugan tandaan po natin, ang gamit po’y nabibili pero magtulungan lang tayo. Importante po walang nasaktan, wala pong namatay, kasi ang gamit po’y nabibili natin. At Pilipino tayo, kilala tayong nagtutulungan,” Go urged.

“Ang pera po’y kikitain natin subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever kaya mag-ingat po kayo mga kababayan ko. Magtulungan ho tayo at huwag ho kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Nandirito naman po ang gobyerno at marami po tayong mga kaibigan, kayo. Basta magtulungan lang tayo ang importante po buhay tayo,” he reiterated.

Under the law primarily authored and co-sponsored by Go, the BFP undergoes a ten-year modernization program that shall include the modernization of the BFP’s firefighting equipment, vehicles, communication systems, and other facilities to ensure that the bureau is equipped with the necessary resources to respond to fire emergencies and other disasters efficiently.

It also directs the agency to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units.

Go’s Malasakit Team gathered 23 fire-hit households at the Queen of Peace Barangay Hall. They gave the beneficiaries immediate assistance, such as grocery packs, financial aid, snacks, masks, vitamins, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball. They also gave a mobile phone to a select recipient.

Underlining the importance of health, Go offered to assist the fire victims with health concerns. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go encouraged the residents to reach out to any 163 Malasakit Centers nationwide, including the one at Baguio General Hospital in the city.

Go principally authored and sponsored the program under Republic Act No. 11463. The law mandates all Department of Health-run hospitals, plus the Philippine General Hospital, to establish centers that would provide convenient access to medical assistance programs by the government. According to the DOH, the program has helped more than ten million Filipinos.

“Huwag niyo po akong tawaging Senador, Kuya Bong Go lang po. At parang kapitbahay lang po tayo, kalabitin niyo lang po ako. Nandirito lang po ako handa na handang magserbisyo sa abot ng aking makakaya dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo sa inyong lahat,” Mr. Malasakit, Go affirmed.

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