Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided assistance to fire victims in Davao City on Friday, July 14. The relief activity took place at Barangay 23-C gymnasium, where his team led the distribution of relief goods to 109 affected families.
Together with Barangay Captain Alimodin Usman, Go’s team extended grocery packs, masks, shirts, and snacks to all households. They also gave away bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients.
Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance to help with the damages.
“Mga kababayan, gusto kong pasalamatan ang mga kasamahan ko sa gobyerno. Mayroon lang akong sasabihin sa inyo. Palagi kasi akong nakakarinig ng pagpapasalamat. ‘Salamat (dating) presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte, salamat Senador Bong Go’ sa mga programa na makakatulong sa mga mahihirap,” Go said in a video conference call.
“Huwag kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Sa totoo lang kami ang dapat na magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo. Maraming salamat sa inyo. Sanay ako sa trabaho,” he continued.
Go also cited that he primarily authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021.
Under the law, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) undergoes a ten-year modernization program to help improve the capabilities of the agency. The program includes recruiting more firefighters, acquiring new fire equipment, and developing specialized training, among others.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go likewise urged those with health concerns to visit the Malasakit Center at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in the city, where they can seek assistance for their medical-related expenses.
Designed to assist poor and indigent Filipinos, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop, where all relevant agencies are brought together under one roof to ensure the accessibility of medical assistance programs.
The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, principally sponsored and authored by Go, has successfully assisted more than three million Filipinos with 158 operational centers nationwide.
In addition to the Malasakit Centers, Senator Go maintained that the construction of 11 Super Health Centers across Davao City is underway, in coordination with the Department of Health.
Super Health Centers will be strategically built in rural communities to ensure basic health services are accessible to more Filipinos. The centers offer 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, which makes remote diagnosis and treatment of patients possible.
“Higit 600 na Super Health Center ang itatayo sa buong Pilipinas sa tulong ng aking mga kasamahan sa Kongreso at sa DOH. Iyan ang Super Health Center. ‘Yung mga buntis pwede nang manganak diyan, hindi na kailangan (lumayo) pa (at) pumunta ng ospital,” the senator explained further.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, mailalapit natin ang pangunahing serbisyo medikal mula sa gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito lalo na sa mga nasa malalayong lugar,” he added.
As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported several initiatives in Davao City, including the construction of various multipurpose buildings and local roads, rehabilitation of water systems, drainage systems and flood control structures in different barangays throughout the city, the construction of a 300-bed capacity infectious diseases building for SPMC and the acquisition of ambulances.
“Lahat ng tao sa mundo ay may bisyo. Ang bisyo ng social worker tulungan ang mga mahihirap. Ang bisyo ng mga pulis hulihin ang mga kriminal. Ang bisyo ng doctor gamutin ang mga pasyente. Ako may bisyo rin. Ang aking bisyo ay magserbisyo sa inyong lahat,” Go reiterated.
“Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Ako po ang inyong Senador kuya Bong Go, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Dahil ako’y naniniwala na ang serbisyo po sa tao ay serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” he concluded.
On the same day, Go personally provided additional support while the National Housing Authority extended emergency housing assistance for recovering fire victims from various barangays in Davao City.