Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s team led a relief activity for fire-hit households in Parañaque City on Saturday, September 23. The distribution took place at the Pentagon Court in Barangay BF Homes, where the senator’s team coordinated with Congressman Gus Tambunting, Mayor Eric Olivarez, Vice Mayor Joan Villafuerte, and Brgy. BF Homes Chairman Paolo Marquez to provide assistance for 14 affected families.
The staff extended financial assistance, grocery packs, clean drinking water, snacks, balls for basketball or volleyball and shirts.
Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority (NHA) assessed affected families who may qualify to receive emergency housing assistance from its existing program.
“Kaya una kong tinatanong parati kung wala bang nasaktan sa inyo. Pangalagaan po natin ang buhay ng bawat isa. Magtulungan lang po tayo, makakabangon po tayo, makakaahon po tayo. Kilala naman po ang Pilipino sa pagtutulungan. Kaya po kami narito, makatulong man lang sa inyo – pagkain, tubig, kaunting pinansyal, at mga gamit para makabangon po muli kayo. Magtulungan lang po tayo mga kababayan ko. Huwag ho kayong mawalan ng pag-asa,” Go said in a video message.
“Alam kong mahirap ang nasunugan pero magtiwala lang po kayo sa gobyerno at magtulungan lang kayo. Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa, ang importante ay buhay kayo. Ang gamit po ay napapalitan, ang pera ay kikitain pero ang pera ay hindi nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya mag-ingat tayo palagi,” he added.
Go principally authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act, which aims to improve the agency’s firefighting capabilities by acquiring modern fire equipment, hiring more fire personnel, and providing training programs, among others.
The law also directs BFP to conduct a monthly fire prevention campaign and information drive in every local government unit, particularly in informal settlements and economically depressed areas.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, urged those who need medical assistance, to make use of the 31 Malasakit Centers in Metro Manila, which includes the center located at Ospital ng Parañaque.
Designed to assist indigent Filipinos, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where all relevant agencies are brought together under one roof to ensure that medical assistance programs are within the patients’ reach. The Malasakit Centers program has successfully assisted more than seven million Filipinos with 159 operational centers nationwide. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
Go also championed the construction of Super Health Centers, which will be strategically located nationwide with two in Parañaque City as identified by the Department of Health (DOH).
Through a collective effort of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, as the lead implementing agency, identifies strategic areas where these centers will be built.
Meanwhile, Go is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the recently passed RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The said law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported several initiatives in the city, including the rehabilitation and construction of several multipurpose buildings, rehabilitation of drainage in Brgy. Don Bosco, improvement of the Parañaque River Promenade Bridge, and acquisition of an ambulance unit.
Last September 5, more fire victims in Parañaque City received assistance from the senator.