Bong Go continues aid activities amid holiday season to help fire victims in Parañaque City

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go visited Parañaque City on Tuesday, December 27, to personally check on the situation of and provide relief to more than a hundred fire-hit households in Barangay San Dionisio.

“Una po sa lahat, binabati ko kayo ng Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. Bagama’t alam kong malungkot ang ating Pasko dahil nasunugan po kayo, huwag ho kayong mag-alala ang gamit naman po ay nabibili natin muli basta magtulungan lang tayo,” Go encouraged in his speech.

“Ang pera po’y kikitain natin, subalit ang perang kikitain natin ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Walang part two po (ang buhay); hindi po pelikula ang buhay kaya importante (ay) buhay tayo (at) walang nasaktan,” he emphasized.

Held at the Brgy. San Dionisio Sports Complex, Go and his team distributed grocery packs, vitamins, masks, meals, and shirts to 212 affected families. The senator likewise gave away bicycles, cellular phones, watches, and shoes to select beneficiaries, as well as balls for basketball and volleyball to each family.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development committed to extend financial assistance to each affected household to hasten their recovery.

“Ako naman po in my own small capacity, tutulong ako. Pinutol ko po ang aking bakasyon (ngayong) Pasko nang nabalitaan ko pong nasunugan kayo (kaya) sabi ko pupuntahan ko po kayo,” Go explained.

“Taga-Davao po ako, taga-Mindanao po ako. Pumunta po ako rito para makatulong sa inyo, makabigay ng solusyon sa inyong mga problema, at makapag-iwan po ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon po ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” Go expressed.

Continuing his remarks, Go reiterated his call to local authorities to remain persistent in ensuring that their respective communities are better protected against fire hazards, citing, “mag-ingat po tayo. Pangalagaan po natin parati ang bawat isa dahil ‘pag may nasusunog na bahay, kadalasan nadadamay ang kapitbahay.”

“Hindi na naibabalik ang nasunog… umpisa muli. Pero huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Magtulungan lang po tayo, mga kababayan ko. Nandito po ang gobyerno na hindi kayo pababayaan,” he continued.

As part of his commitment to ensure that the government can more efficiently address fire-related incidents, Go principally authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act.

The said law provides for the acquisition of new fire equipment, hiring of additional personnel, and provision of specialized training for firefighters. It also directs the BFP to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in every local government unit, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“Isa sa isinulong ko talaga noong naging senador po ako, ‘yung Modernization ng Bureau of Fire Protection – karagdagang kagamitan, karagdagang fire fighters, at education campaign na turuan po ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat at makapaghanda,” noted Go.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go then reminded the beneficiaries to remain disciplined and continue adhering to health protocols, especially during the holiday season. He likewise encouraged those eligible to get their complete jabs against COVID-19.

“Huwag tayong maging kumpiyansa bagama’t lumuluwag po ang ating health restrictions sa ngayon. Ako po ay nananawagan sa mga kababayan natin, kung hindi naman po sagabal, mag-face mask pa rin po tayo. May dumarating na mga bagong variants, hindi natin alam kung malakas ba itong makahawa, o kung gaano kalakas itong variant na ito tulad noon na nakakamatay. So ingat pa rin po tayo,” said Go in an ambush interview after the event.

“Magpabakuna kayo, kung qualified na kayo sa booster, magpa-booster na tayo. Napakarami pong bakuna na available sa gobyerno, gamitin niyo po ito… mas protektado kayo kapag kayo po ay bakunado,” he reiterated.

Go also advised those with health concerns to take advantage of the services offered in any of the 31 Malasakit Centers across Metro Manila, including one at Ospital ng Parañaque.

Primarily authored and sponsored by Go, the Malasakit Centers Act provides for the establishment of one-stop shops where poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail medical assistance from agencies, such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Mayroon na po tayong 153 na Malasakit (Centers) sa buong Pilipinas na handa po tumulong sa inyo… Batas na po yan isinulong ko noon, sinuportahan po ng mga kasamahan ko sa Kongreso, (si) Congressman (Edwin) Olivarez, (at) mga senador, batas na po yan pinirmahan ni (dating) presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte. Para po yan sa poor and indigent patients, lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit center,” highlighted Go.

The senator likewise supported the construction of Super Health Centers in the city that will be strategically located in Barangays Baclaran and Moonwalk. Aimed at reducing hospital occupancy rates, Super Health Centers will offer health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, 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, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Go, who also serves as the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several initiatives designed for the city’s progress and development. Among these are the rehabilitation and construction of multipurpose buildings in several barangays, drainage rehabilitation in Brgy. Don Bosco, the improvement of Parañaque River Promenade Bridge, and the acquisition of an ambulance and a motor vehicle for the LGU.

Following his visit in Parañaque City, Go proceeded to Malabon City where he also personally assisted more fire victims. (CESAR MORALES)