ON Thursday, March 7, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go demonstrated his continued dedication to assisting Filipinos by extending help to families affected by fire incidents in Coron, Palawan.
“Alam kong mahirap ang masunugan pero ayaw kong mawalan kayo ng pag-asa. Tandaan ninyo, ang gamit mabibili natin, magsumikap lang tayo. Ang pera ay kikitain natin ‘yan, magsumikap lang tayong magtrabaho. Pero ang pera na kikitain natin, hindi mabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya mag-iingat tayo palagi,” underscored Go in a video message.
The distribution activity was held at the Rural Health Unit Building in Coron, where 37 affected families received masks, vitamins, balls for basketball and volleyball, and shirts. There were also select recipients of shoes.
Through Go’s advocacy for disaster resilience, the National Housing Authority provided emergency housing assistance to qualified beneficiaries to help them rebuild their homes.
“Isinulong natin na mabigyan sila ng National Housing Authority ng ayuda pambili ng housing materials tulad ng pako, yero at iba pa, upang maisaayos muli ang kanilang mga tirahan. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa NHA para programa nila upang masigurong makabangon at makapagpatayo muli ang ating mga kababayang biktima ng sakuna,” Go highlighted.
Go also acknowledged Congressman Egay Salvame, Governor Dennis Socrates, Mayor Marjo Reyes, among others for their service to their constituents.
Go then pointed out that homelessness in the country is caused by several reasons, including fires, natural disasters, poverty, unemployment, and limited access to affordable housing.
For this reason, the lawmaker continues to push for his filed Senate Bill No. 192, which seeks to institutionalize the Rental Housing Subsidy Program. Under the proposed measure, a housing and social protection program will be developed to provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies provided by the government.
Meanwhile, Go primarily authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act. This Act requires the BFP to undertake and implement a ten-year modernization plan.
This modernization program includes the acquisition of contemporary fire-fighting equipment, the hiring of more firefighters, and the offering of specialized training, among other initiatives.
“Kaya ako bilang inyong senador, nagsulong ako ng batas, itong Bureau of Fire and Protection Modernization Act para sa mga bagong gamit sa ating mga bumbero, at education campaign para turuan kayo na mag-ingat. Kapag may nasunog na bahay damay talaga ang mga kapitbahay kaya nakikiusap ako na magtulungan lang tayo mga kababayan,” said Go.
Apart from the assistance, Go also extended support to those needing medical-related aid. As the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair, Go encouraged them to take advantage of the medical assistance programs available in the Malasakit Centers located at Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, Culion Sanitarium Hospital in Culion, and Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke’s Point.
Under RA 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate, Department of Health (DOH)–run hospitals and other qualified public hospitals can have their own Malasakit Centers to provide faster and more convenient access to medical assistance, particularly for poor and indigent patients.
There are now 160 operational centers in the country since the program was initiated in 2018. According to DOH, more than ten million Filipinos have benefitted from the Malasakit Centers.
The senator also emphasized his advocacy to establish Super Health Centers nationwide, particularly in 13 strategic locations across Palawan, ensuring the essential health services are closer, especially in far-flung communities.
Through the collective efforts of Go, DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, Jr., local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. There will also be 132 Super Health Centers funded in 2024.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance likewise supported the construction of several multipurpose buildings in Bataraza, Sofronio Española, and Roxas; road improvements in Aborlan, Brooke’s Point, Coron, Sofronio Española, Narra, Quezon, and Rizal; installation of storm drainage and small water impounding project in Cagayancillo; the acquisition of dump trucks in Coron and Dumaran; and streetlighting project in Puerto Princesa City, Linapacan and Magsaysay.
