SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Team organized a relief operation for recovering fire victims in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, on Tuesday, December 5, as part of the senator’s efforts to uplift the lives of disaster-affected families.
The distribution activity was held at Barangay Bading conference room where 13 families received grocery packs, shirts, masks, vitamins, and balls for basketball and volleyball. They also provided a pair of shoes to a select recipient.
Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority provided support to each affected family through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) which Go earlier advocated for and continues to support.
“Isinulong din 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,” Go highlighted.
“Itong EHAP program, isinulong ko ito noon at patuloy na sinusuportahang mapondohan ang programa ngayon, upang mas marami pang mga biktima ng sakuna ang makapagpatayo ng maayos na bahay at makabangon muli mula sa trahedya,” he added.
Meanwhile, Go highlighted Republic Act No. 11589, which he primarily authored and co-sponsored. It mandates the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to implement a ten-year modernization program. This includes the acquisition of modern firefighting equipment, augmentation of personnel, and provision of specialized training for firefighters, among other improvements.
“Modernizing the Bureau of Fire Protection is crucial for improving its ability to respond to emergencies and disasters. The government must invest in the modernization of the BFP to ensure the safety and well-being of the Filipinos,” cited Go.
“Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa, ang importante ay buhay kayo. Ang gamit po ay napapalitan, ang pera ay kikitain pero ang pera ay hindi nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya pangalagaan natin ang buhay na binigay sa atin ng Panginoon,” he added.
Go likewise continues to push for the enactment of Senate Bill No. (SBN) 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 if enacted into law.
The lawmaker also co-sponsored SBN 2451, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act. The bill, primarily sponsored by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, aims to establish permanent, well-equipped evacuation centers nationwide. He earlier filed a previous version of the bill titled the “Mandatory Evacuation Center Act,” underscoring his enduring commitment to improving the country’s disaster preparedness infrastructure.
The senator also encouraged residents to take advantage of the services offered by Malasakit Centers nationwide, including the one at Butuan Medical Center in the city.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together relevant agencies to provide medical aid to indigent Filipinos. Go is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act, which has successfully assisted over ten million Filipinos through its 159 operational centers nationwide.
Go also expressed his support for the construction of Super Health Centers across the country, including one in the city, which he inspected last June.
These centers are designed to offer a wide range of basic health services, database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation centers; and telemedicine, which makes remote diagnosis and treatment of patients possible.
In Agusan del Norte, necessary funds have been allocated by Congress for the construction of other Super Health Centers in Cabadbaran, Las Nieves, and Santiago, aside from the one in Butuan City.
Moreover, echoing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s priority of bringing specialized medical services closer to other parts of the country, Go principally sponsored and co-authored RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, has been a staunch supporter of various initiatives in the city. These include the construction of the Valenzuela Center for Academic Excellence, the acquisition of ambulance units for the city government, and the construction of a multipurpose building in Brgy. Canumay West.
