WHILE CALLING FOR VIGILANCE IN ANTICIPATION OF FIRE PREVENTION MONTH, BONG GO PROVIDES AID TO RECOVERING FIRE VICTIMS IN MANDALUYONG CITY

“Sa mga nasunugan, huwag ho kayong mag-alala. Sabi ko nga sa inyo noon, ang gamit ay nabibili. Ang pera ay kikitain, subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever,” Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, in a video message, told recovering victims of a recent fire incident in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City as his Malasakit Team offered them aid on Tuesday, February 27.

“Pangalagaan at ingatan po natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat isa. Ang importante po magtulungan tayo, sino pa ba ang magtutulungan kung ‘di tayo lang po kapwa natin Pilipino. Kaya po nandirito kami ngayon para tulungan kayong lahat mga kababayan ko,” he added.

The relief activity was held at the Molave covered court in Brgy. Addition Hills, where 91 families received snacks, shirts, vitamins, masks, and balls for basketball and volleyball from Go’s Malasakit team. Select individuals received shoes and a mobile phone. Philip Salvador represented the senator during the activity and also provided support to select individuals.

Meanwhile, representatives from the National Housing Authority (NHA) provided emergency housing assistance to the beneficiaries, offering support for purchasing construction materials such as nails, galvanized iron sheets, and others, enabling affected families to rebuild their lives.

“Ang matatanggap niyo po ngayon ay mula sa programa ng NHA na ating isinulong noon kung saan kayo po ay bibigyan ng emergency housing assistance o tulong pinansyal para makapamili po kayo ng mga materyales, tulad ng pako, yero at iba pa, at makapagsimula muli,” said Go.

Meanwhile, Go highlighted in his video message the significant progress of the Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) modernization program, as mandated by the Republic Act No. 11589, which he primarily authored and co-sponsored. The modernization initiative encompasses a comprehensive plan to enhance the BFP’s operational capacity. This program’s key components include acquiring advanced fire equipment, expanding the workforce by hiring additional firefighters, and offering specialized training programs to ensure a well-prepared and efficient response team.

In partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the LGUs, the BFP carries out regular fire prevention campaigns and information drives, particularly in far and underserved areas.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also encouraged those with health issues to seek the services of the Malasakit Center at the National Center for Mental Health in the city.

Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. Currently, 159 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. DOH reported that the Malasakit Center program has aided around ten million Filipinos.

“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,” said Go, who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.

Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported funding for many key projects in Mandaluyong City. These include the construction of a multipurpose hall and building in Brgy. Namayan.