Fire victims in Parañaque City assisted by Bong Go as he continues to advocate for better fire prevention efforts

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains persistent in safeguarding the well-being of Filipinos as he personally spearheaded a relief operation for distressed families in Parañaque City on Tuesday, February 7, whose houses were damaged by separate fire incidents last January 15 in Barangays Merville and San Dionisio.

Senator Go and his outreach team conducted the relief operation at Brgy. Merville Extension Building where they distributed relief items, such as grocery packs, vitamins, masks, meals, and shirts to the 45 affected families. He also gave away bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, bags, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients.

Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial assistance to further help with their recovery while the National Housing Authority assessed the families for possible housing assistance.

“Mga kababayan ko dito sa Brgy. Merville at Brgy. San Dionisio, mayroon lang po akong sasabihin sa inyo. Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa akin o sa amin. Kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil kami po’y mga probinsyano lamang na binigyan n’yo po ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo. Maraming salamat po sa inyong tiwala sa akin. Kaya hinding-hindi ko po iyan sasayangin. Kaya sabi ko, kung kaya ko po kayong puntahan, kung kaya po ng aking katawan at panahon, pupuntahan ko kayo,” remarked Go in his speech.

“May trabaho kami sa Senado (mamaya), eh nabalitaan ko na nasunugan kayo rito. Kaya nandito po ako para makatulong sa inyo, masolusyunan ang inyong mga problema, at mag-iwan ng ngiti sa oras ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” he shared.

Go then likewise reassured that the government continues to exert great efforts to ensure better and stronger fire response and preparedness following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act that would enhance the firefighting capability of the agency.

As mandated by the Act, which Go primarily authored and co-sponsored, the bureau undergoes a ten-year modernization program, which includes acquiring new modern fire equipment, hiring additional personnel, and providing specialized training for firefighters, among others.

Apart from the assistance he provided, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered medical assistance to any resident with health issues. He encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Center in the city located at Ospital ng Parañaque or any of the 30 other Malasakit Centers across Metro Manila.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies, such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, are put under one roof to assist poor and indigent patients with their medical expenses.

“Mayroon na po tayong 154 na Malasakit center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Ang Malasakit Center po is a one-stop shop (at) batas na po yan na isinulong ko, pinirmahan ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Nasa loob na po ng ospital ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH at DSWD na handang tumulong sa inyo. Sa mga kababayan natin, lapitan n’yo lang po. May Malasakit Center rin po kayo sa Ospital ng Parañaque,” explained Go.

“Pa-check-up na kayo. Ang problema sa atin takot sa babayaran sa ospital (kaya) ‘wag po kayong matakot sa mga babayaran (dahil) tutulungan po namin kayo sa mga government hospital hanggang makalabas kayo. Pati pamasahe po ninyo, tutulungan namin hanggang makauwi kayo,” he offered.

More so, Go shared that he has been pushing for the establishment of Super Health Centers, including Brgys. Baclaran and Moonwalk, which will be strategically located in various areas nationwide especially those far from hospitals.

Go advocated the construction of more of this improved version of polyclinics to ensure basic health services can be easily accessed by marginalized communities. Services offered are 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, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Some 307 SHCs were funded in 2022 through Go’s initiative. He likewise committed his continued support for the establishment of more SHCs in the country as he has earlier successfully pushed for sufficient funds for the centers in this year’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH.

Ending his message, Go lauded the local officials of the city for the immediate response to support the fire victims and for always putting the interest of their constituents first.

“Tayo po’y Pilipino at mahalin po natin ang ating kapwa Pilipino. Lalung-lalo na po ‘yung mahihirap, huwag ho nating pabayaan,” Go reminded.

“May payo lang po ako sa inyo sa mga nasunugan. Huwag ho kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Ang importante po walang nasaktan, walang namatay. Ang gamit po nabibili natin ‘yan magtulungan lang tayo. Ang pera po’y kikitain natin ‘yan magsipag lang tayo. Subalit ang perang kikitain po ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Importante po pangalagaan po natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat isa,” he encouraged.

Go, who is Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported several projects in the city to ensure unhampered service remains. Among the projects are the rehabilitation and construction of several multipurpose buildings, the rehabilitation of drainage in Brgy. Don Bosco, improvement of the Parañaque River Promenade Bridge, and acquisition of an ambulance unit.