Senator Bong Go remains persistent in safeguarding the well-being of Filipinos as he personally spearheaded a relief operation for distressed families in Parañaque City on Tuesday, 7 February, whose houses were damaged by separate fire incidents last 15 January in Barangays Merville and San Dionisio.
Senator Go and his outreach team conducted the relief operation at Brgy. Merville Extension Building where they distributed relief items, such as grocery packs, vitamins, masks, meals, and shirts to the 45 affected families. He also gave away bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, bags, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients.
Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial assistance to further help with their recovery while the National Housing Authority assessed the families for possible housing assistance.
“Mga kababayan ko dito sa Brgy. Merville at Brgy. San Dionisio, mayroon lang po akong sasabihin sa inyo. Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa akin o sa amin. Kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil kami po’y mga probinsyano lamang na binigyan n’yo po ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo. Maraming salamat po sa inyong tiwala sa akin. Kaya hinding-hindi ko po iyan sasayangin. Kaya sabi ko, kung kaya ko po kayong puntahan, kung kaya po ng aking katawan at panahon, pupuntahan ko kayo,” remarked Go in his speech.
Go then likewise reassured that the government continues to exert great efforts to ensure better and stronger fire response and preparedness following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act that would enhance the firefighting capability of the agency.
As mandated by the Act, which Go primarily authored and co-sponsored, the bureau undergoes a ten-year modernization program, which includes acquiring new modern fire equipment, hiring additional personnel, and providing specialized training for firefighters, among others.
Apart from the assistance he provided, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered medical assistance to any resident with health issues. He encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Center in the city located at Ospital ng Parañaque or any of the 30 other Malasakit Centers across Metro Manila.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies, such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, are put under one roof to assist poor and indigent patients with their medical expenses.
“Mayroon na po tayong 154 na Malasakit center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo. Ang Malasakit Center po is a one-stop shop (at) batas na po yan na isinulong ko, pinirmahan ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Nasa loob na po ng ospital ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH at DSWD na handang tumulong sa inyo. Sa mga kababayan natin, lapitan n’yo lang po. May Malasakit Center rin po kayo sa Ospital ng Parañaque,” explained Go.
More so, Go shared that he has been pushing for the establishment of Super Health Centers, including Brgys. Baclaran and Moonwalk, which will be strategically located in various areas nationwide especially those far from hospitals.
Go advocated the construction of more of this improved version of polyclinics to ensure basic health services can be easily accessed by marginalized communities. Services offered are database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit.
Some 307 SHCs were funded in 2022 through Go’s initiative. He likewise committed his continued support for the establishment of more SHCs in the country as he has earlier successfully pushed for sufficient funds for the centers in this year’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH.
Go, who is Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported several projects in the city to ensure unhampered service remains. Among the projects are the rehabilitation and construction of several multipurpose buildings, the rehabilitation of drainage in Brgy. Don Bosco, improvement of the Parañaque River Promenade Bridge, and acquisition of an ambulance unit.
Ending his message, Go lauded the local officials of the city for the immediate response to support the fire victims and for always putting the interest of their constituents first.