THE Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go conducted an activity for the residents of Barangay Comembo, Makati City , whose houses were damaged after a fire broke out on the morning of September 26.

His outreach team provided financial assistance, meals, food packs, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 34 families at the barangay hall. They also gave selected residents bicycles for commuting and computer tablets for their children’s blended learning activities.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out separate financial assistance to address other immediate concerns. The Department of Trade and Industry and the National Housing Authority also assessed residents who may qualify for their respective assistance programs.

In a video message, the Senator thanked the firefighters for the work they continue to do in communities across Metro Manila. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to their safety which was demonstrated with the recent enactment of Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act.

The law, which Go principally authored and co-sponsored in the Senate, aims to enhance the BFP’s firefighting and rescue capabilities over a ten-year period by expanding its manpower, procuring new fire equipment, and developing specialized training programs for firefighters, among others.

“Ako mismo ay saksi sa hinagpis na nararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan na biktima ng mga sunog. Buwan-buwan, ilang insidente ng sunog ang aking binibisita sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa upang makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga kababayan nating nabiktima nito,” said Go.

“Kaya nag-file ako ng bill sa Senado to enhance our fire protection services and hire more personnel who are willing to dedicate their lives to ensure the safety of our communities. Dapat paghandaan natin ang anumang krisis o sakuna. Bukod sa pagiging laging handa, dapat rin maging informed ang mga Pilipino kung papaano maiiwasan ang mga insidente tulad ng sunog,” he continued.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go offered to assist any resident in need of medical care and advised them to avail of medical assistance from the government at the nearest Malasakit Center. There are currently 141 Malasakit Centers nationwide, 26 of which are located in Metro Manila.

The Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop which provides convenient access to the medical assistance programs of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The program was institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go likewise principally authored and sponsored in the Senate.

“Nung nangyari ‘yung sunog, nandun kami sa hipag ko. Bigla nalang may nagsabi na nasusunog na ang bahay namin. Buti nalang nailigtas ‘yung mga magulang ko. Kahit isang gamit wala silang nakuha. Iyung mga aso namin, hindi na namin nailigtas. Sobrang hirap kasi back to zero na naman kami. Iyung trabaho ko naman hindi araw-araw. Walang trabaho din ‘yung mga magulang at kapatid ko at may baby pa siya,” said Jaemie Antiporda, 23, a fish vendor.

“Sa ngayon, nakikitira nalang kami sa maliit na bahay ng hipag ko. Siksikan kami ngayon. Gayunpaman, nagpapasalamat kami kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at Senator Bong Go sa lahat ng tulong na binigay sa amin. Sa Sangguniang Kabataan, maraming salamat rin sa tulong ninyo para pang-araw-araw namin,” she added.

In the end, the Senator thanked various officials and community leaders for their assistance and support. Among those he thanked were 2nd District Representative Luis Campos, Jr.; Mayor Abigail Binay; Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo; Punong Barangay Richard Peralta; and Kagawad Dexter Croox, Joven Gaspar, Edgardo Cleofas, Virgilio Jara, Angelita De Vera, Ma. Meldy Tiamzon and Virgilio Cabagyo.

On Monday, September 27, Go’s team also provided aid to eight families affected by a fire incident in Brgy. Guadalupe Viejo. All activities were held in batches to ensure strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

——————-

Bong Go advocates for more disaster resilient communities

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go continued to call for the passage of a bill that will provide for the establishment of mandatory evacuation centers in every municipality, city and province to ensure the safety of all affected residents in the event and aftermath of a disaster.

In a video message at an activity in Talisay City, Go appealed to fellow lawmakers to act on his proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 1228, which will address the immediate needs of disaster victims, particularly those belonging to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups.

“When disaster strikes, Filipinos, especially ‘yung mga underprivileged, suffer the most. Nakita naman natin ang matinding pangangailangan para sa mga istrukturang ito na magsisilbing panandaliang tahanan ng mga Pilipino sa tuwing may bagyo o anumang natural disaster,” said Go.

“Huwag na nating antayin na may panibagong sakuna pang dumating. Umaksyon na tayo ngayon upang maprotektahan lalo ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he continued.

Go’s outreach team provided meals, grocery packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 1,442 flood victims. The distributions were carried out in batches at the Bulacao Sports Complex and Barangay Tabunok covered court to ensure the strict enforcement of the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.

Selected beneficiaries were given computer tablets so their children can study better under the blended learning set-up. Some received new pairs of shoes and others received bicycles to help them in their daily commute to work.

In an effort to support their recovery, representatives from the Department of the Social Welfare and Development also handed out financial assistance. The Department of Agriculture also turned over a fishing boat to a local fishing cooperative.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority conducted assessments for their respective assistance programs.

“Nasira ang aming bahay at naanod ‘yung mga gamit namin kaya ang hirap talaga ngayon, lalo na wala pang mga trabaho. Hindi pa ako makapunta sa aking doktor para ipatingin ang aking sakit.

‘Yung asawa ko naman ay sa bahay lang at tumutulong sa aking mga anak na nagmo-module. Buti nalang at iskolar ‘yung isa kaya may tulong para sa kanya kahit papaano,” said Danilo Calunod, 55, a resident of Brgy. Dumlog.

“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Senator Bong Go at Presidente Rodrigo Duterte para sa tulong nila at makakabili ako ng bigas. Maraming salamat din sa senador para sa Malasakit Center at dati na akong nakatanggap ng tulong dito!” he added.

The Senator, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, offered his assistance to any resident with health-related concerns. He advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Talisay City District Hospital where they may conveniently avail of further aid from the government to cover their medical expenses.

The other Malasakit Centers are also located at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City, and Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City.

They serve as a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The program was institutionalized in 2019 through a bill that Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate and has benefitted more than two million patients nationwide.

“Tuloy-tuloy itong Malasakit Center dahil para sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte, hindi dapat natin pinahihirapan ang mga pasyente. Kundi dapat tulungan natin sila para hindi na sila pa pila-pila sa iba’t ibang opisina para humingi ng tulong. Lapitan niyo lang ‘to at handa itong tumulong sa inyo para maging zero balance ang billing ninyo,” reassured Go.

“Magtinabangay lang ta. Kinsa magtinabangay, kita lang man mga kaigsuonan natong mga Pilipino. Ug pinalangga mo namo ni Presidente Duterte,” he added.

(Translation: “Magtulungan lang tayo. Sino ba naman ang magtutulungan kundi tayo lang mga kapwa Pilipino. At mahal namin kayo ni Pangulong Duterte.”

Go concluded his message thanking various officials for their hard work and diligence at this time. They included 1st District Representative Eduardo Gullas; Governor Gwendolyn Garcia; Vice Governor Hilario Davide; Mayor Gerald Gullas; Vice Mayor Alan Bucao; and Councilors Julian Daan, Socrates Fernandez, Richard Aznar, Rodolfo Cabigas, Manuel Cabriana, Antonio Bacaltos, Marietta Bucao, Gail Restauro, Ferdinand Rabaya and Ofelia Ylanan.

He pledged his continued support throughout the pandemic, having recently provided aid to over 10,000 residents in Dalaguete, Medellin, Pinamungajan, Tabogon and Cebu City.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also supported various initiatives to spur the economy and create more jobs for the people of Cebu. Among these were the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Barili, Cordova, Ginatilan, Pilar, Tabogon, Cebu City and Talisay City; improvement of existing roads in Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Asturias, Balamban, Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Madrilejos, Malabuyoc, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Pinamungajan, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Carcar City and Naga City; improvement of flood mitigation structures in Catmon and Tuburan; installation of street lights in Asturias, Compostela, and Daanbantayan; and acquisition of ambulance units for Madrilejos and Naga City.