SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go vowed to continue pushing for more measures to improve the country’s fire-fighting capabilities as he provided relief to the families impacted by a fire incident in Barangay 76-A Bucana, Davao City on Friday, February 11.

His team provided financial assistance, meals, food packs, vitamins and masks to a total of 44 fire victims at the SIR Bucana Barangay Hall. Select individuals also received new pairs of shoes or bicycles for their commuting needs while those with children studying under the blended learning set-up were given computer tablets.

“Alam kong mahirap ang panahon ngayon dahil nasa gitna tayo ng krisis dulot ng COVID-19. Mayroon pang nasunugan at namatayan. Kaya lubos po akong nakikiramay sa inyo,” began Go in his video message.

“Parati tayong mag-ingat. Ako naman, nag-file ako ng bill sa Senado upang ma-modernize ang ating Bureau of Fire Protection. Magdadagdag tayo na mga bagong gamit at firefighters. Kailangan din na kada buwan ang fire prevention campaigns at information drives. Napaka-importante nito dahil kada isang bahay na masusunog, damay ang mga kapitbahay,” he continued.

Go is the principal author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 11589 which provides for the implementation of a BFP modernization program.

The program includes the acquisition of modern fire equipment, expansion of the BFP’s human resources, and provision of specialized training for firefighters, among others.

Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last year, the law also directs the BFP to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in every local government unit, particularly in informal settlements and economically depressed areas.

Meanwhile, personnel from various national government agencies also distributed other forms of assistance to help residents deal with the impacts of both the fire incident and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development provided separate financial aid while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority offered scholarship grants to those qualified.

The Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Trade and Industry also assessed potential beneficiaries of their employment and livelihood programs, respectively.

Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, the senator offered additional help to those in need of medical attention. He advised them to avail of services from the Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop for the government’s medical assistance programs, located at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.

There are currently 149 Malasakit Centers across the country through which poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the Department of Health, DSWD, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Go is also the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

The senator then urged his fellow Davaoeños who are already eligible to get vaccinated and boosted to better protect themselves from the virus.

“Mayroon lang ho kaming pakiusap ni Pangulong Duterte sa inyo, magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna. Huwag ho kayong matakot sa bakuna, matakot ho kayo sa COVID-19. Ang bakuna po ang susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay katulad po noon,” Go appealed.

“Kailangan pong magtiwala kayo sa gobyerno dahil ginagawa po ng gobyerno ang lahat sa abot ng makakaya para po malampasan natin itong krisis na ito,” he added.

On this note, Go recognized the public officials who extended assistance to the fire-hit community.

Meanwhile, Sen. Go’s outreach team mounted relief operations for 18 families whose houses were razed in separate fire incidents in Bocaue and Obando, Bulacan on Friday, February 11.

Go’s staff provided financial assistance, meals, food packs and masks to the victims at the Biñang 1st Barangay Hall in Bocaue and Pag-asa Barangay Hall in Obando. Select individuals in Bocaue also received a bicycle and a computer tablet.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development provided separate cash assistance to each affected family.

In a video message, Go vowed to continue supporting communities in distress for their faster recovery. He then reassured that the country’s fire protection services will improve through the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act.

“Nakikita ko ang hirap ng ating mga kababayan. Kahit isang bahay lang ang masunog, damay pati ang kapitbahay. Maraming pamilya ang apektado kaya dapat na palakasin natin ang kapasidad ng BFP sa pagreresponde sa sunog,” he noted.

The senator offered additional aid to those needing medical attention. He encouraged them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center at the Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria or at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City.

Previously, the senator had also assisted fire victims in the town of Sta. Maria.