Senator Christopher “Bong” Go assisted 283 recovering fire victims at the Cagayan de Oro City Hall Ground Quadrangle on Thursday, October 19.
Go’s team provided the beneficiaries with shirts, masks, vitamins, snacks, and balls for basketball and volleyball. There is also a select recipient of a pair of shoes from the senator.
In coordination with the National Housing Authority (NHA), through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) which Go advocated for and continues to support, the beneficiaries also received financial assistance for housing materials.
“Isinulong natin ang programang ito noon at patuloy ko itong sinusuportahan ngayon upang matulungan ang mga biktima ng sunog na makabili ng materyales para sa bahay tulad ng yero, pako, semento, at iba pang kagamitan,” Go said in a video message.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, 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. Hindi lamang natin sila tinutulungan na magkaroon ulit ng maayos na masisilungan, kundi binibigyan din natin sila ng bagong pag-asa,” he added.
Go then cited his filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 193, or the proposed Mandatory Evacuation Center Act, which aims to ensure the availability of permanent, safe, and well-equipped evacuation centers in every city, municipality, and province across the country.
“Mayroon po akong nai-file sa Senado, ito pong Senate Bill 193, nasa Committee level pa po ito. Kung maisabatas, magkakaroon ng mandatory evacuation centers sa bawat munisipyo, siyudad, at probinsya,” said Go.
“Alam n’yo, napapanahon na po na magkaroon tayo ng maayos na evacuation center. Hindi lang po tuwing puputok ang bulkan, kundi tuwing may bagyo, sunog, lindol o ano pa mang sakuna,” he added.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, encouraged those with medical concerns to visit the Malasakit Centers located at Northern Mindanao Medical Center and J.R. Borja General Hospital in the city.
“Meron na tayong 159 Malasakit Centers sa buong bansa. Ang Malasakit Center ay one-stop shop na kung saan ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno ay nasa loob ng ospital,” explained Go.
Signed into law in 2019, the Malasakit Centers Act, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go, institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program to ensure that indigent patients have convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Meanwhile, Go reiterated his commitment to support the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country, considering how they can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing basic medical services closer to the grassroots.
In Misamis Oriental, necessary funds were allocated to construct Super Health Centers in Gingoog City, Binuangan, Libertad, Balingasag, Claveria, Initao, and Tagoloan. There will also be six other Super Health Centers in Cagayan de Oro City.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where these will be constructed.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several infrastructure projects, including the construction of a drainage system and flood control structures along the Iponan River, the acquisition of several ambulance units and fire and dump trucks, and the construction of a three-story multipurpose building in Barangay 33.
He was also instrumental in funding flood control projects in Magsaysay, Medina and Gingoog City; construction of multipurpose buildings in Initao, Magsaysay, and Gingoog City; rehabilitation of local roads in Baliangao, Balingasag, Balingoan, Initao, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Libertad, Lugait, Magsaysay, Manticao and El Salvador City; and construction of water systems in Balingasag and Jasaan.
Last March 23, Go was named by the local government of Cagayan de Oro City as an adopted son, acknowledging his notable contributions, not only to the city but to the nation as a whole.
The city government also recognized former president Rodrigo Duterte as its adopted son highlighting his legacy programs that have significantly contributed to the progress of the country during his term, such as the Build, Build, Build program and his war against illegal drugs.