Senator Christopher “Bong” Go visited Malabon City on Friday, October 21, and personally spearheaded a relief activity for its fire victims.
In his speech, the senator reminded the public to be more vigilant and follow fire safety guidelines to reduce the risk of similar incidents.
“Ang gamit po’y nabibili, ang pera po ay kikitain. Subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya mag-ingat po tayo,” Go urged.
“Pangalagaan po natin ang buhay ng bawat isa. Napapansin ninyo ‘pag nasunugan, ‘pag nasunog ang isang bahay, nadadamay po ‘yung kapitbahay. Kaya ingat po tayo. Importante po ang buhay ng bawat isa,” he underscored.
Go and his staff distributed grocery packs, canned goods, vitamins, masks, meals, shirts, and umbrellas to 139 fire-hit households at the Tonsuya Barangay Hall. They also gave away cellular phones, watches and shoes to select individuals.
In addition, the senator provided others with bicycles and balls for basketball and volleyball as part of his commitment to encourage Filipinos, especially the youth, to get into sports and stay away from illegal drugs and other vices.
“Gusto ko pong iengganyo ang mga kabataan na get into sports, stay away from drugs. Isa po ‘yan sa pamamaraan na patuloy nating labanan ang iligal na droga sa pamamaraan na pag-engganyo sa mga kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Tulungan n’yo po ang gobyerno, layuan po natin ang iligal na droga,” appealed Go.
“Kapag mayroon pong biktima ng droga sa pamilya, isa lang po, maniwala kayo na sira na po agad ang pamilya. Please lang po, ilayo po natin ang mga kabataan sa iligal na droga. Get into sports, stay away from drugs. Huwag po nating sayangin ang inumpisahan ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte na labanan po ang iligal na droga. Para naman po ‘yan sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak,” he reiterated.
To help the affected families recover faster, the Department of Social Welfare and Development likewise extended financial aid through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Meanwhile, as part of the senator’s advocacy to ensure communities, particularly those in far-flung areas, are more protected from fire-related incidents, Go primarily authored and co-sponsored the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021.
The modernization program includes the acquisition of new fire equipment, hiring of more personnel, and provision of highly specialized training programs, among others.
The BFP is also mandated to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in every local government unit, especially in informal settlements, economically depressed areas and far-flung communities.
To ensure the public’s health and well-being are looked after, Senator Go, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered medical assistance to those with health issues.
He also encouraged the fire victims in need of medical attention to seek the services of the nearest Malasakit Centers located at Ospital ng Malabon or San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital, both in the city.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which brings together under one roof the agencies from which patients may seek medical assistance, namely, the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The centers have assisted millions of poor and indigent patients since Go launched the program in 2018. He also principally authored and sponsored Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, institutionalizing the program. There are currently 152 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
“Huwag n’yo nang tagalan, pa-checkup na kaagad kayo sa ospital at huwag n’yo na hong alalahanin ang babayaran ninyo sa ospital. Tutulungan ho namin kayo. Ang importante po masalba lang natin ang buhay ninyo,” urged Go.
Go likewise extended his support to the establishment of two Super Health Centers in the city that will be located in Barangays Longos and Tonsuya.
“Ito pong tinatawag na Super Health Center mas malaki lang po siya sa Rural Health Unit, mas maliit sa hospital. Halimbawa emergency cases, dental, panganganak, magagamot po kaagad. Maglalagay po ng dalawang Super Health Center dito sa Malabon, dito po sa Longos at tsaka sa Tonsuya Super Health Center po dito sa inyong lugar. Magkakaroon kayo ng bagong Super Health Center po,” he explained.
Advocated by Go, Super Health Centers are medium versions of polyclinics and are bigger than rural health units, which offer basic services such as out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit, among others. There will be 307 Super Health Centers to be established by the DOH in various parts of the country this year.
Ending his message, the senator lauded all local officials for their quick response to the incident and support they provided to the affected residents.
“Nandirito po ako para tumulong, makapagbigay ng solusyon sa inyong problema, at makaiwan po ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” said Go.
“Nakakawala ng pagod kapag nakikita ko po kayo na tumatawa rin po. Kahit nasunugan tayo ang importante po buhay tayo. Mga taga-Malabon, mga minamahal kong kababayan, mahal ko po kayong lahat. Salamat po,” he concluded.
DAVAO BREAKING NEWS 