Bong Go

Bong Go personally relief op for Navotas fire victims

November 18, 2022 People's Journal 281 views

RIGHT after his visit to the province of Bulacan, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go proceeded to Navotas City on Wednesday, November 16, to personally provide aid to hundreds of families whose houses were damaged by recent fire incidents in Barangays Bagumbayan North and Navotas West.

Addressing the needs of 516 fire-hit households, with five casualties, the senator reassured that he will continue to exert his best efforts to ensure that no one is left behind towards recovery.

“Ako po’y naririto (ngayon at) ako po’y nakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng nasawi. Alam n’yo po, iniikot ko po lahat halos ng mga nasunugan sa buong parte ng bansa. Umabot na po ako sa sunog sa Jolo, doon sa mga kapatid nating Badjao sa tabing-dagat. Umabot na ako sa lindol sa Batanes. Mula Batanes, Aparri hanggang Jolo, pinuntahan ko na po ‘yan dahil iyan po ang aking pangako sa inyo. Basta kaya po ng aking katawan at ng aking panahon, pupuntahan ko po kayo para makabigay ng kaunting tulong po sa inyong lahat sa abot ng akong makakaya. Iyan po ang aking ipinangako sa inyo,” cited Go in his speech.

“Kaya lang tuwing may nasusunugan, sumasakit po ang aking dibdib… Diyos lang po ang nakakaalam kung kailan talaga tayo mawawala sa mundong ito. Tanggapin po natin ang katotohanan na ang buhay po ay mayroong hangganan… magdasal po tayo at ipagdasal po natin ‘yung mga mahal natin sa buhay. Ang gamit po nabibili. Ang pera po ay kikitain rin po natin, magsipag lang tayo. Subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. Ang nawalang buhay po ay wala na. A lost life is a lost life forever,” he continued.

Go then reassured that the Bureau of Fire Protection will be more equipped in responding to fire-related incidents following the implementation of the BFP Modernization Act, which was signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in September of last year.

Republic Act No. 11589, which Go primarily authored and co-sponsored in the Senate, provides for a ten-year modernization program for BFP that includes the acquisition of modern fire equipment, recruitment of more firefighters, and provision of specialized training, among others.

During the visit, Go and his team provided grocery packs, vitamins, masks, meals, and shirts to the affected residents at the Centennial Park. Go likewise gave away cellular phones, shoes, bicycles, and watches to select individuals.

The senator also handed out balls for basketball and volleyball to several youths as he encouraged them to participate more in sports activities instead of vices.

“Adbokasiya ko sports. Get into sports, stay away from drugs. Ilayo po natin ang mga kabataan sa iligal na droga. Engganyuhin po natin sila na maglaro ng basketball, volleyball o anumang larangan ng sports. Basta ‘wag lamang sila pumasok sa iligal na droga dahil kapag may biktima po ng droga sa pamilya, sira na po ang pamilya. Tulungan n’yo po ang ating gobyerno. Get into sports and stay away from drugs” Go encouraged.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended separate cash assistance to each affected family.

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, then reached out to the residents with health concerns and advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at the Navotas City Hospital.

Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops that provide poor and indigent patients convenient access to medical assistance programs from the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. Currently, there are 152 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

“Lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center sa inyong mga lugar… Ang hirap sa atin, takot sa babayaran. Huwag po kayong matakot sa babayaran, tutulungan po namin kayo sa inyong babayaran sa ospital,” Go offered.

Meanwhile, he also continues to push for the establishment of Super Health Centers. The DOH, with the support of Go, will establish 152 SHCs nationwide this year including 18 across Metro Manila. They plan to build more in the coming years.

Super Health Centers offer basic health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

“Bilang Chairman of the Committee on Health and Sports, gusto ko pong palakasin ang ating healthcare system. Karagdagang Super Health station, Malasakit Center, mga specialty hospital, at i-improve pa natin ang ating healthcare system,” said Go.

A staunch advocate for quality education, Go has likewise supported the construction of new school buildings and facilities inside Navotas Polytechnic College, Kaunlaran High School, Daanghari Elementary School, North Bay Boulevard Elementary School, Navotas National High School, Tangos Elementary School, San Roque Elementary School, San Rafael Village Elementary School, Tanza Elementary School, and Dagat-Dagatan Elementary School.

The senator, who is also Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of two floodgates along Navotas Coastal Dike, construction of floodwall Chungkang River, construction of a multipurpose building, and acquisition of two units of DOH-accredited ambulances, two units of trucks, and two units of multicabs.

“Alam n’yo po, nawawala ang aking pagod kapag nakikita ko kayong nakangiti lalo na po ngayon na nasunugan pa kayo. Dasal lang tayo. Hinding-hindi po tayo pababayaan ng ating Panginoon. Tandaan po natin nandidiyan po ang ating Panginoon, hinding-hindi Niya tayo pababayaan. Importante po buhay tayo. Pangalagaan po natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat isa,” said Go.

“Minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung anuman pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede natin gawin sa ating kapwa ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Iyan po ang totoo sa buhay natin. Ako po patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos,” he concluded.

Earlier that day, Go visited the province of Bulacan where he personally gave recognition to barangay workers in Malolos City and later joined the inauguration of the Super Health Center in Balagtas.

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