SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go reaffirmed his commitment to help more communities in distress as he personally checked on and provided relief to fire victims in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS), Navotas City on Tuesday, May 24.

Addressing the 106 families affected by the recent fire incident, the senator assured that he will continue to exert great efforts to ensure that no Filipino is left behind towards recovery.

“Importante po walang nasaktan, kaya ‘yun ang parati kong tinatanong. Tandaan po natin, ang gamit po nabibili, magtulungan lang tayo. Ang damit nabibili natin, ‘yung pera po kikitain natin.

Subalit po ‘yung perang kikitain natin ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever,” Go encouraged.

“Kaya huwag po kayong mawawalan ng pag-asa. Magtulungan lang ho tayo na maiahon kayo sa krisis. Huwag po kayong malungkot dahil hindi namin kayo pababayaan,” he added.

Go then expressed his confidence that the Bureau of Fire Protection will be more equipped in responding to fire-related incidents following the implementation of the BFP Modernization Act of 2021.

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 distributed grocery packs, canned goods, vitamins, meals and shirts to the affected families at Brgy. NBBS Hall. The senator also gave phablets, bicycles, shoes and watches to select individuals.

Go also provided the youth with basketballs and volleyballs as he encouraged them to stay away from vices and engage in sports instead knowing that it will teach them discipline in order to become productive members of society.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended separate cash assistance to each affected family. The National Housing Authority, in turn, further assessed the needs of the victims and provided housing assistance through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program.

The Department of Trade and Industry also assessed potential beneficiaries for its Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa Livelihood Program while the Department of Health distributed more supplies of vitamins and assorted medicines.

Continuing his speech, Go reached out to the beneficiaries and their loved ones with health concerns and encouraged them to visit Navotas City Hospital where there is a Malasakit Center ready to assist them with their medical expenses.

Malasakit Centers 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.

“Wala na ho kayong babayaran sa inyong pagpapaospital. Para po ‘yan sa poor and indigent patients, para po ‘yan sa Pilipino. Isinulong ko ‘yan noon sa tulong po ni Congressman John Rey sa Kongreso. Naging batas na po ‘yan, pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. It’s a one-stop shop po para hindi na po mahirapan ang ating kababayang Pilipino sa pagpapaospital. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center – 151 na po ‘yan, mula Batanes hanggang Jolo, mayroon pong Malasakit Center,” he explained.

The senator then took the opportunity to urge those eligible yet unvaccinated to participate in the national vaccination drive, saying, “Huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna. Nandidiyan naman po ang bakuna, 245 million doses of vaccines na po ang dumating sa ating bansa. Libre naman po ito mula sa gobyerno.

“Kung hindi pa kayo bakunado, magpabakuna na kayo at kung puwede na ho kayong magpa-booster, magpa-booster na po kayo. Nakikiusap po kami, para makabalik tayo sa normal nating pamumuhay kung saan po mayayakap natin ang ating kapwa Pilipino,” he appealed.

“Sa totoo lang po, ilang beses na ako nagpunta sa nasunugan dito. Niyayakap ko po kayong lahat noon. Kaya lang po ngayon, marami pang bawal dahil social distancing. Patawad po pero darating din po ang panahon na makakabalik tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay. Basta sumunod lang tayo sa ating gobyerno. Kooperasyon lang po,” he reiterated.

Finally, the senator thanked the local officials for assisting their constituents and ensuring that their community builds back better from the pandemic and other crisis situations.

Also an advocate for quality education and as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has 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.

He also 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 Department of Health-accredited ambulances, two units of trucks, and two units of multi-cabs.

“Bukas po ang aking opisina para po sa inyo sa abot po ng aking makakaya. Salamat po sa inyong suporta sa administrasyong Duterte… Patapos na ho ang termino ni Pangulo, ngunit nandidiyan lang po siya sa tabi na mahal na mahal po ang kanyang kapwa Pilipino. Sa totoo lang po, mahal na mahal namin kayo,” Go expressed.