Bong Go aids fire-hit Cebu communities, stresses fire prevention interventions
Photograph courtesy of SBG | SENATOR ‘Bong’ Go.
On Saturday, May 20, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go had his team mounted a relief activity for Cebuanos whose houses were damaged in a fire incident in Cebu City. In a video call, the senator underscored that he will continue to promote and advocate for better fire prevention measures in the country.
"Sa mga nasunugan po dito sa Cebu City, sana nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa, ang importante ay buhay kayo. Ang gamit po ay napapalitan, ang pera ay kikitain pero ang pera ay hindi nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya mag-ingat po tayo," Go expressed.
The senator's team mounted the relief activity at Barangay Mambaling gymnasium, where they distributed grocery packs, snacks, vitamins, masks and shirts. They also gave away bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, watches and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
A team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial support.
In total, 171 affected families were aided from Barangays Duljo Poblacion, Pit-os, Mambaling, Kalunasan, Luz, Sinsin, Kamputhaw and Basak San Nicolas.
Go has primarily authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act.
"Importante po na mabigyan ng suporta ang modernization ng ating Bureau of Fire Protection dahil napaka-importante ng tungkulin na ginagampanan nila upang makapagligtas ng buhay," Go explained.
"Halos linggu-linggo akong bumababa sa mga nasusunugan. Nakikita ko ang hirap ng ating mga kababayan. Kahit isang bahay lang ang masunog, damay pati ang kapitbahay. Maraming pamilya ang apektado kaya dapat na palakasin natin ang kapasidad ng BFP sa pagreresponde sa sunog," he added.
Signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2021, the Act provides for the acquisition of modern fire equipment, expansion of the BFP's manpower, and provision of highly-specialized training to firefighters, among others. It also mandates the bureau to implement monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in every local government unit.