Senator Bong Go distributed assistance to families whose houses were damaged by a fire incident in Barangay Baseco, Manila City on Tuesday, 18 October.

Held at the Baseco evacuation center, Go's relief team distributed financial assistance, grocery packs, vitamins, snacks, and masks to 50 affected families. In addition, select individuals received new pairs of shoes, cellular phones, and balls for basketball and volleyball.

Representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Housing Authority also committed to conducting an assessment for those who may be eligible for their emergency housing and livelihood assistance programs.

Go, through a video conference call, informed the beneficiaries that the Bureau of Fire Protection is currently undergoing a ten-year modernization program, following the enactment of the BFP Modernization Act of 2021 to ensure that it is better prepared and equipped to respond to fire-related incidents.

Under Republic Act No. 11589, which was primarily authored and co-sponsored by Go in the Senate, the BFP modernization program includes the acquisition of new fire equipment, hiring more firefighters, and provision of specialized training, among others.

"Kumusta po kayo mga kababayan ko? Sana po'y walang nasaktan, importante sa akin na walang nasaktan. Tandaan natin, ang gamit po'y nabibili naman. Ang pera po'y kikitain natin subalit 'yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya pangalagaan natin ang buhay na binigay sa atin ng Panginoon," Go emphasized.

In line with his priority to provide convenient access to quality healthcare services, Go also offered to help those in need of medical care and encouraged them to seek assistance from the government through any of the five Malasakit Centers in the city.

A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program provides one-stop shops designed to help indigent patients with their medical expenses by bringing partner agencies under one roof, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The Malasakit Centers in the city are located at Tondo Medical Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Hospital, and San Lazaro Hospital.

Go also supported the construction of four Super Health Centers in the city, particularly in Bario Magsaysay in Tondo, Valeriano Furgoso in Santa Cruz, Esperanza in Sta. Mesa, and Maria Clara in Sampaloc. He also supported the upgrading of Super Health Centers in Atang dela Rama, and Palomar, both in Tondo.

Through Go's efforts as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and with the support of DOH and his fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds were allocated under the 2022 national budget for the construction of some 307 Super Health Centers. He was likewise successful in pushing for additional funds under the 2023 budget to support the construction of 322 Super Health Centers in other parts of the country.

The senator then thanked the local officials for extending necessary assistance to the affected families and further appealed for them to remain committed to helping their constituents fully recover.

To help in the development of the city, Go likewise supported the construction of multipurpose buildings and road improvements in several barangays, structural improvement of public buildings, and construction of evacuation centers.

He also previously supported the acquisition of medical and educational supplies, surveillance systems, rescue patrol service, ambulances, and a multipurpose vehicle; and the purchase and installation of solar-powered street lighting for the city.