SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go continues to bring assistance to distressed Filipino families, having dispatched his Malasakit Team on Tuesday, January 9, to assist those affected by a fire in Angono, Rizal.
In a video message, Go, adopted son of CALABARZON, reiterated his appeal to the local governments concerned to strengthen fire prevention measures in their communities, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Alam ko pong napakahirap ng panahon ngayon pero tandaan po natin na ang pera po ay kinikita, ang gamit po ay nabibili, pero ang pera na kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya mag-ingat po tayo palagi,” underscored Go.
Held at Barangay Kalayaan covered court, the senator’s Malasakit Team coordinated with Congressman Michael John “Jack” Duavit and Mayor Jeri Calderon to provide assistance to 58 fire victims.
The relief items include grocery packs, water containers, snacks, and shirts. There were also select recipients of shoes and a mobile phone.
As part of his commitment to ensure that the government can more efficiently address fire-related incidents, Go successfully pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 11589, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization (BFP) Act.
The said law, which Go primarily authored and co-sponsored, presently facilitates the acquisition of new fire equipment, hiring of additional personnel, and provision of specialized training for firefighters. It also directs the BFP to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in every local government unit in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“Ako naman po, bilang senador, naipasa na po natin sa Senado ‘yung modernization ng Bureau of Fire Protection. ‘Yung karagdagang kagamitan, karagdagang firefighters, at monthly education campaign para turuan po ang kababayan natin na mag-ingat dahil bawat bahay po na nasusunog, nadadamay po ang kapitbahay,” he cited.
Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also advised the families who have health concerns to take advantage of the services offered in the Malasakit Centers inside Antipolo City Hospital System Annex IV, Casimiro A. Ynares Sr. Memorial Hospital in Rodriguez, Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital, and Margarito A. Duavit Memorial Hospital in Binangonan.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail of medical assistance from agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
RA 11463 that institutionalized the Malasakit Centers was principally sponsored and authored by Go. Since 2018, 159 Malasakit Centers have been established and have helped more or less ten million Filipinos, according to DOH.
Furthermore, Go also supported the construction of numerous Super Health Centers nationwide including those in Rizal province. Super Health Centers will 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.
In the past, Go has also supported several initiatives to help in the province’s development. These include the improvement of the road and drainage system in Angono, Rodriguez and Antipolo City; rehabilitation of the flood control structures along the upper Marikina River in Rodriguez; construction of the Batangas Medical Center Annex in Rodriguez; construction of the Justice Building in Antipolo City; construction and improvement of a multipurpose building and new roads in Baras; and purchase and installation of streetlights in San Mateo.
