Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has dispatched his staff to provide assistance to fire-affected households in Parañaque City on Tuesday, September 5.
In his video message, Go narrated how the implementation of Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act, helped the agency to significantly bolster its capacity to respond to fire-related emergencies.
RA 11589, which Go principally authored and co-sponsored in the Senate, mandates a ten-year modernization program for BFP, which includes the acquisition of modern fire equipment, recruitment of more firefighters, and provision of specialized training, among others.
“Magdasal po tayo at ipagdasal po natin ‘yung mga mahal natin sa buhay. Ang gamit po nabibili. Ang pera po ay kikitain rin po natin, magsipag lang tayo. Subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. Ang nawalang buhay po ay wala na. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya pag-ingatan natin ang buhay na ibinigay sa atin ng Panginoon,” Go said.
Go’s team, together with Congressman Edwin Olivarez, Mayor Eric Olivarez, and Vice Mayor Joan Villafuerte, provided financial assistance, grocery packs, meals, shirts, masks, vitamins, and balls for basketball and volleyball to 71 fire-affected families gathered at the Gawad Kalinga Covered Court. They also distributed cellular phones and shoes to several recipients.
Meanwhile, a team from the National Housing Authority (NHA) assessed households that may qualify for emergency housing assistance.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered to help those with health needs and encouraged them to visit any of the 31 Malasakit Centers in Metro Manila, including the one located at Ospital ng Parañaque.
“Sa mga pasyente, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ‘to sa inyo. Kung may hospital bill kayo, nandiyan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para mabayaran ito. Tutulungan kayo ng Malasakit Center upang pababain ang inyong hospital billing,” Go said.
Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program after he personally witnessed the struggles of disadvantaged Filipinos in settling their hospital bills. He successfully pushed for the passage of RA 11463, which he principally sponsored and authored in 2019.
The center is home to concerned agencies mandated to provide patients with medical assistance, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. There are now 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
Moreover, Go said that DOH has identified areas for the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide with two strategically located in Parañaque City.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 Super Health Centers in 2023. DOH, as the lead implementing agency, identifies strategic areas where these centers will be built.
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 center and telemedicine, through which remote diagnosis and treatment of patients are made possible.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported various projects in the city, including the construction of multipurpose buildings, rehabilitation of drainages, improvement of the Parañaque River Promenade Bridge, and the acquisition of an ambulance, which Go was able to personally check on August 28.
The senator also personally provided relief to struggling students on August 28.