Daily TribuneIn his message, Go expressed appreciation to the CDA for caring about the plight of cooperatives in fulfillment of its mandate. In addition, he encouraged them to keep providing aid to the hopeless and the helpless.
The outreach team of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go mounted a two-day relief effort from 12 to 13 December for struggling Cebuanos, including typhoon and fire victims in Aloguinsan and Cebu City, respectively.
In his video message, Go reaffirmed his continued effort to push for a more disaster-resilient nation, considering the country's vulnerability to calamities.
Go has earlier primarily authored and co-sponsored Republic Act 11589, under which the Bureau of Fire Protection is undergoing a 10-year modernization program to ensure a more efficient and holistic approach in dealing with fire-related incidents.
He likewise renewed his appeal for the enactment of Senate Bill 188 which aims to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience. The proposed measure seeks to create a highly specialized agency that would unify and streamline all responsibilities related to disaster preparedness and response, which are presently scattered across various departments and offices.
Held at Aladome in Aloguinsan and Viking Gymnasium in Cebu City, Go's team extended relief items, such as grocery packs, vitamins, shirts, masks and snacks to 1,604 disaster victims. They also gave away shoes, cellular phones, umbrellas and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
Go reaffirmed his commitment to help more Filipinos in crisis, especially this holiday season, as he sent assistance to fire victims in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato on Tuesday, 13 December.
Fire prevention
Go's team distributed grocery packs, vitamins, shirts, masks, slippers, umbrellas, snacks, caps, and balls for basketball and volleyball to 34 fire-hit households at the Senior Citizen Wellness Office.
In a message, the senator reiterated the need for stronger fire prevention efforts. He earlier primarily authored and co-sponsored the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act to improve the bureau's firefighting capability.
The Act provides for a 10-year modernization program which includes recruiting more firefighters, acquiring new fire equipment, and developing specialized training, among others.
Last Thursday, 15 December, Go attended the launching of the Cooperative Development Authority-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Partnership Program on Medical Assistance for Cooperatives at the CDA Main Office in Quezon City.
As part of the initiative, micro and small cooperative members with health issues will be eligible to receive financial aid from the Charity Fund established through the PCSO.
Meanwhile, Go highlighted that there are now 153 Malasakit Centers all over the country, which make it easy to access medical and financial assistance programs offered by the government.
Malasakit Centers host concerned government agencies with programs that provide medical assistance to Filipino patients, particularly the poor and indigent. These agencies include the PCSO, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
