THE Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go organized distribution activities in Macabebe and Porac, Pampanga for residents who have been adversely affected by separate fire incidents in the said towns.

“Palagi ko pong sinasabi kung gaano kahalaga ang buhay. Alam ko pong mahirap ang masunugan pero mas mahirap po ang mawalan ng buhay. Kaya dapat mas lalo natin palakasin ang mga fire prevention campaigns natin para hindi po palaging nauulit ang mga ganitong sunog,” underscored Go.

Go’s team handed out grocery packs, snacks, vitamins, shirts, and masks to the two affected families at San Rafael barangay hall in Macabebe, and Pulung Santol barangay hall in Porac.

In a separate distribution, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided the fire victims with financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Go then reiterated the importance of stronger fire response and preparedness in the country. He earlier principally authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act.

The said law provides for a ten-year modernization program which includes recruiting more firefighters, acquiring modern fire equipment, and developing specialized training programs, among others.

“Saksi ako sa hinagpis na nararamdaman ng mga biktima ng sunog. Kada buwan, ilang komunidad ang ating binibisita upang makapagbigay ng tulong. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na maging handa sa oras ng sakuna kaya nag-file ako ng batas para mabigyan ng karagdagang kagamitan at personnel ang ating BFP,” Go said.

Meanwhile, in 2022, the senator also supported the construction of Super Health Centers in Pampanga located in Lubao, Macabebe, Magalang, Porac and San Agustin towns, and in the city of San Fernando.

In 2023, more of these centers will be established in the towns of Arayat, Magalang, Minalin, Porac, and Sta. Rita.

These centers provide basic health services such as database management, out-patient, birthing, 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.

“Ang Super Health Center po mas maliit lang sa hospital, mas malaki po sa Rural Health Unit. It’s a medium type of polyclinic, nasa loob na ho ‘yung panganganak, birthing facilities, nandiriyan rin po ang laboratory, dental, isolation at iba pang mga emergency cases. Hindi na kailangang itakbo minsan sa malalayong lugar,” cited Go.

He likewise offered additional help to those in need of hospital care and encouraged them to visit any of the three Malasakit Centers in the province, including one at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City, and at Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital and the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital and Diagnostic Center in San Fernando City.

A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program helps financially incapacitated Filipinos get affordable health services. The program was later institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which he principally authored and sponsored in the Senate.

Currently, there are 154 Malasakit Centers in the country. The program celebrated its fifth year anniversary this month.

Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the funding of new equipment for hospitals in San Fernando City and the towns of Arayat, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Porac and San Luis; and construction of multipurpose buildings in Arayat, Floridablanca, Santa Monica, Magalang and Masantol, among others. He was also instrumental in the construction of slope protection along Sapangbato River in Barangay Margot in Angeles City.

Continuing his remarks, the senator commended the local officials for spearheading the recovery and rehabilitation efforts in their community.

“Pakiusap lang namin sa inyo, kailangan ang kooperasyon at disiplina ng bawat Pilipino. Mag-ingat kayo palagi at magdasal tayo palagi. At tandaan ninyo, mahal namin kayo,” Go ended.