Bong Go gives support to rebuilding efforts for fire victims in Caloocan City

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's team provided assistance to 44 fire victims in Caloocan City on Thursday, September 28. In his video message during his team's relief activity at Bulwagan ng Katipunan, Go reiterated his support to ensure that families recover from the damages incurred.

"Sa mga nasunugan, huwag ho kayong mag-alala. Sabi ko nga sa inyo noon, ang gamit ay nabibili. Ang pera ay kikitain, subalit 'yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever," said Go.

"Pangalagaan at ingatan po natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat isa. Ang importante po magtulungan tayo, sino pa ba ang magtutulungan kung 'di tayo lang po kapwa natin Pilipino. Kaya po nandirito kami ngayon para tulungan kayong lahat mga kababayan ko," he added.

Go, through his team, provided masks, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball to all affected individuals while he also gave away shoes to select recipients.

Meanwhile, a team from the National Housing Authority (NHA) extended emergency housing assistance to qualified families to further help them recover and get the materials they need to rebuild their homes.

"Mayroon po akong isinusulong na programa noon para sa NHA. Ito po 'yung pambili ng housing materials. Bibigyan po kayo ngayong araw na ito ng pambili ng materyales tulad ng pako, yero at iba pang kagamitang pampaayos ng bahay. Patuloy nating sinusuportahan ang implementasyon ng programa para makatulong po sa mga nasunugan nating kababayan na makabangon muli," Go explained.

Go also cited that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is currently undergoing a modernization program following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11589, also 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 modernization program shall include 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 local government units.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also reached out to residents with health concerns, advising them to utilize the services of any of the 31 Malasakit Centers in Metro Manila, including the one at Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan city.

Malasakit Centers function as one-stop shops that provide convenient access to medical assistance programs for poor and indigent patients. These programs are offered by various agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, and there are currently 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide. According to DOH, these centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos.

As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also extended his support to several infrastructure initiatives in Caloocan City to help boost its economic growth, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings.