Valenzuela fire victims receive support from Bong Go 

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's team collaborated with the National Housing Authority to provide support for the recovery of fire victims at Barangay Arkong Bato Hall in Valenzuela City on Tuesday, 3 October.

Go's team revisited the community by accompanying NHA as they provided emergency housing assistance to 127 affected individuals to help rebuild their homes.

The fire victims also received masks, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball from Go's team last 5 September. They also gave away shoes and mobile phones to select recipients.

"Isinusulong natin ang programa ng NHA para mabigyan ng housing assistance ang mga nasunugan at ito ay pwede niyong magamit na pambili ng housing materials tulad ng pako, yero at iba pang kagamitang pampaayos ng bahay," Go said in a video message.

"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," he continued.

Meanwhile, Go renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 193, or his proposed Mandatory Evacuation Centers Act, saying, "Isa po sa mga isinusulong ko ang pagkakaroon ng malinis at ligtas na evacuation center sa mga probinsya. Itong mga centers na ito ay dapat mayro'n sapat na mga emergency packs, katulad ng blankets, tubig, gamot, flashlight, at ready na relief goods. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na palaging maging handa sa oras ng sakuna."

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 those at Valenzuela Medical Center and Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital, which are both located in the city.

Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, is a legislation principally sponsored and authored by Go. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. According to DOH, the 159 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos so far.

As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also extended his support to several infrastructure initiatives in the city to help boost its economic growth, including the construction of the Valenzuela Center for Academic Excellence, acquisition of ambulance units for the city government, and the construction of a multipurpose building in Brgy. Canumay West.