Senator Bong Go continues to help distressed Filipinos get back on their feet amid crisis situations as he had his team provide assistance to fire victims from various barangays in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Friday, 17 March.

In coordination with the local government led by Mayor Lucilo Bayron and Councilor Elgin Damasco, among others, Go’s team mounted the relief operation at Barangay Princesa covered court where they assisted 40 fire-hit households from Brgys. San Jose, Mabuhay, Pagkakaisa, Masigla, and Masikap.

Each family received grocery packs, shirts, snacks, masks, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Meanwhile, select recipients were given cellular phones, shoes, and umbrellas.

In observance of Fire Prevention Month, Go also cited that the Bureau of Fire Protection is currently undergoing a modernization program pursuant to Republic Act No. 11589, otherwise known as the BFP Modernization Act of 2021, which he primarily authored and co-sponsored.

The Act shall enable the agency to respond faster and more effectively to fire-related incidents in the country as the mandated ten-year modernization program includes procuring new fire equipment, expanding manpower, and conducting specialized training for firefighters, among others.

Furthermore, it also mandates the BFP to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the respective local government units.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go continues to help provide poor and indigent patients with better access to medical assistance programs through the 156 Malasakit Centers nationwide, including those at Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, Culion Sanitarium Hospital in Culion, and Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke’s Point.

A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program was launched in 2018 and was later institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which the senator principally authored and sponsored.

Go also supported the funding for Super Health Centers in the province, including two in Balabac, and one each in Puerto Princesa City, Quezon, Sofronio Española, Taytay, Caruray, Magara, El Nido, Narra, and Tumarbong.

Through Go’s initiatives and with the help of his colleagues in the Senate, sufficient funds had been allocated under the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program to construct some 307 Super Health Centers across the country. He likewise successfully pushed for the funding of at least 322 SHCs in the 2023 health budget.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported the acquisition and installation of street lights in several barangays in Puerto Princesa City.

The team of Go held a similar relief operation for more fire-hit households in the city last 24 February.