In an effort to uplift the lives of underprivileged residents in Metro Manila, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go extended his hand through various forms of assistance.
On Monday, 4 September, he and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted a collaborative outreach activity at the Barangay Southside Hall, in Makati City.
Witht the help of Makati Liga ng mga Barangay President Maribel Frias, Go's team distributed snacks and shirts to the 44 beneficiaries. The senator's staff also gave away shoes and balls for basketball and volleyball to select residents.
Concurrently, DOLE offered employment assistance through their TUPAD program for qualified disadvantaged and displaced workers.
"Sa pamamagitan ng programa na ito, tayo ay nakatutulong sa mga manggagawang naapektuhan ng krisis at nagbibigay ng agarang tulong sa kanilang mga pangangailangan," Go said in a video message.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, 5 September, the senator dispatched his staff to Parañaque City to provide assistance to fire-affected households.
Go's team, together with Congressman Edwin Olivarez, Mayor Eric Olivarez, and Vice Mayor Joan Villafuerte, gave financial assistance, grocery packs, meals, shirts, masks, vitamins, and balls for basketball and volleyball to 71 fire-affected families gathered at the Gawad Kalinga Covered Court. Cellular phones and shoes were also distributed to several recipients.
"Magdasal po tayo at ipagdasal po natin 'yung mga mahal natin sa buhay. Ang gamit po nabibili. Ang pera po ay kikitain rin po natin, magsipag lang tayo. Subalit 'yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. Ang nawalang buhay po ay wala na. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya pag-ingatan natin ang buhay na ibinigay sa atin ng Panginoon," Go said.
In his video message, Go narrated how the implementation of Republic Act No. 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act, helped the agency to significantly bolster its capacity to respond to fire-related emergencies.
RA 11589, which Go principally authored and co-sponsored in the Senate, mandates a 10-year modernization program for BFP, which includes the acquisition of modern fire equipment, recruitment of more firefighters, and provision of specialized training, among others.