BONG GO EMPHASIZES HEIGHTENED AWARENESS TOWARDS FIRE PREVENTION AS HE GIVES FURTHER AID TO RECOVERING FIRE VICTIMS IN COTABATO CITY

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go provided further assistance to fire victims in Cotabato City on Tuesday, January 9.

The Malasakit Team provided snacks, grocery packs, shirts, vitamins, masks, and balls for basketball and volleyball to 23 affected households held at the city hall. They also gave select recipients a watch and a pair of shoes.

Aside from the assistance from Go, qualified beneficiaries also received housing assistance from the National Housing Authority under the agency’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP).

“Isinulong natin ang programang EHAP noon at patuloy ko itong sinusuportahan ngayon upang matulungan ang mga biktima ng bagyo, sunog o anumang sakuna, na makabili ng materyales para sa bahay tulad ng yero, pako, semento, at iba pang kagamitan,” Go said in a video message.

“Sa pamamagitan ng EHAP, bibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga pamilyang nawalan ng bahay na makabangon muli. Magbibigay ito ng tulong pinansyal upang mabili ang mga materyales na kakailanganin sa pagtatayo o pag-aayos ng kanilang mga tahanan. Sa pamamagitan nito, hindi lamang natin sila tinutulungan na magkaroon ulit ng maayos na masisilungan, kundi binibigyan din natin sila ng bagong pag-asa,” he added.

Meanwhile, Go also reiterated his appeal to concerned agencies and local government units to enhance and advocate for fire safety and preparedness within their communities.

“Nakakalungkot man po na masunugan dahil para po kayong bumalik sa simula pero mas importante po ang buhay ng bawat isa. Ang gamit po ay nabibili, pero ang pera na kikitain natin ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. Kaya pag-ingatan natin ang buhay na binigay sa atin ng Panginoon,” said Go.

“Kaya hinihikayat ko rin po ang inyong lokal na pamahalaan na mas lalo pang palakasin ang fire prevention awareness. Karamihan po sa ating mga kababayan ay kulang pa po ang kaalaman sa fire safety kaya mas mabuti po na ibahagi natin ito sa kanila para maiwasan ang mga ganitong pangyayari,” he added.

Go primarily authored and co-sponsored the Republic Act No. 11589, known as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act to reduce the occurrence and lessen the impact of fire-related incidents.

RA 11589, which was signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte, requires the BFP to initiate a modernization program. This program includes the procurement of advanced firefighting equipment, increasing the number of personnel, and implementing specialized training programs for firefighters.

In partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the LGUs, the BFP is responsible for carrying out regular fire prevention campaigns and informational outreach programs, particularly in far and underserved areas.

As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go encouraged his fellow residents of Davao City to make their health a top priority. He advised them to utilize the services of the Malasakit Centers, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, or Sanitarium Hospital in Sultan Kudarat town, for any medical assistance they might require from the government.

To date, there are 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide. According to the Department of Health (DOH), these centers have assisted more or less ten million indigent patients nationwide.

RA 11463, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program, was principally authored and sponsored by Go to ensure that Filipinos have convenient access to medical assistance programs by the government.

“Kung kailangan niyo po ng tulong sa pagpapaopera sa Maynila, huwag po kayong mag-atubiling lumapit sa ating mga lokal na opisyal o kaya sa aking opisina. Magsabi lang ho kayo at kami po ay handang tumulong sa abot nang aming makakaya,” Go offered.

Go also emphasized his support for establishing Super Health Centers. He aims to enhance the accessibility of basic public health services for communities.

Super Health Centers offer database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, through which remote diagnosis and treatment of patients are made possible.

Cotabato City will get a total of four Super Health Centers.

Go then underscored RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, a legislative initiative for which he is the principal sponsor and one of the authors in the Senate.

The Regional Specialty Centers Act holds importance in the healthcare legislative agenda of the Marcos Administration, as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan covering the years 2023 to 2028. This legislation is designed to establish Regional Specialty Centers within existing regional hospitals under DOH jurisdiction.

As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported several projects, including the construction of public markets in Buldon and Matanog; and the construction of a multipurpose building in Matanog.