BONG GO SENDS ADDITIONAL AID TO RECOVERING FIRE-HIT HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTH COTABATO TO HELP THEM REBUILD

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided additional assistance to recovering fire victims in Santo Niño, Surallah, and Koronadal City, South Cotabato, on Tuesday, November 26, to help them rebuild and recover.

Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority (NHA), through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), which Senator Go initiated and has been a staunch advocate for, also provided emergency housing assistance to the affected families to help them rebuild their homes.

The EHAP is designed to provide relief and support to families who have lost their homes due to disasters like fires, typhoons, and earthquakes. By advocating for the continuous implementation of EHAP, Go aims to ensure that affected families receive the necessary assistance to rebuild their lives and homes.

In his video message, Go encouraged affected residents, saying, “Mga kababayan, sa mga nasunugan, ‘wag kayong mawalan ng pag asa. Ang gamit ay mabibili natin ‘yan kung magtutulungan lang tayo at nandito kami handang tumulong sa inyo sa abot ng aming makakaya. Ang pera, kikitain niyo ‘yan kung magsumikap lang tayo pero ang perang kikitain ay hindi mabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever.”

As part of his commitment to ensuring the government is ready and equipped to deal with fire-related incidents, Go highlighted Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, which he primarily authored and co-sponsored, to further enhance the firefighting capability of the agency.

The law provides for a ten-year modernization program for BFP that includes acquiring modern fire equipment, recruiting more firefighters, and providing specialized training, among others.

During the said initiative held at the City Social Welfare and Development Office in Koronadal City, three families from Santo Niño, two from Surallah, and one from Koronadal City also received snacks, grocery packs, vitamins, and masks from Senator Go.

Apart from the relief given, as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and a health reforms crusader himself, Go encouraged the beneficiaries to make their health a top priority. He advised them to utilize the services of the Malasakit Centers in SOCCSKSARGEN, situated at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City, SOCCSKARGEN General Hospital in Surallah, and Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City, for medical assistance they might require from the government.

“Mayroon na tayong 166 na Malasakit Centers. Ang Malasakit Center ay batas na ‘yan na aking isinulong, na pinirmahan ni dating presidente Rodrigo Duterte. One-stop shop, nasa loob ng ospital ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, at DSWD, tutulungan kayo. Para talaga ‘yan sa poor and indigent patient. Para iyan sa Pilipino, inyo talaga ang Malasakit Center,” explained Go.

Principally authored and sponsored by Go, the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 establishes these centers to provide impoverished patients a one-stop shop where they may conveniently avail of medical assistance programs by concerned agencies. According to the DOH, these centers have helped over 15 million indigent patients.

“Mga kababayan, minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung anumang kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Iyan naman ang totoo. Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” underscored Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.