Go urges stern fire prevention measures
IN the wake of numerous fire incidents, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go reminded the public to be extra cautious and follow fire preventive measures to ensure the safety of their families and respective communities.
The senator made the remark in a video message on January 8, during a distribution activity his office organized for fire victims in Bacoor City, Cavite.
“Alam niyo, mahirap ang masunugan. Kapag nasunog ang isang bahay, damay ang kapitbahay, kaya mag-ingat kayo parati. Ang gamit po’y nabibili natin, ang pera kikitain natin. Pero ang perang kikitain natin ay hindi nabibili ang buhay. Kaya pakiusap ko, mag-ingat at magtulungan tayo para maiwasan natin maulit ang mga ganitong insidente (You know, it’s hard to be a fire victim. If a house is burning, the neighbors are affected, that is why you have to be careful always. We can buy belongings, money can be earned. But the money we earn cannot buy life. Thus, I am appealing to you, be careful and let us help one another so we could avoid such incidents of this kind),” Go said.
His outreach team distributed financial assistance, food packs, meals and masks at the Centro Half Court in Barangay Zapote 5 where 46 families or 133 individuals took shelter after a fire broke out in their area during New Year’s Eve. Selected families were also given a bicycle or computer tablet.
In addition, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided the victims with some separate financial assistance while the Department of Health (DoH) distributed medicines and vitamins.
Meanwhile, The Department of Trade and Industry and the National Housing Authority conducted assessments for livelihood and emergency housing assistance programs, respectively.
The senator then expressed his gratitude to the firefighters for their constant hard work and service to the community. He vowed to continue pushing for stronger firefighting measures, having previously authored and co-sponsored Republic Act (RA) 11589 or the “Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021.”
RA 11589, which targets to upgrade the fire bureaus in local government units, also seeks to improve the firefighting and rescue capabilities of the Bureau of Fire Protection through a ten-year modernization program, which includes the acquisition of modern fire equipment, provision of specialized training, and recruitment of additional firefighters.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go offered additional support to those with injuries or other medical needs.
He reminded them that they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government through the Malasakit Center at the city’s Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital or the General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital in Trece Martires City.
The Malasakit Center aims to make medical assistance programs more accessible by putting the concerned agencies under one roof, including the DoH, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Go is also the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463 or the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.”
As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and adopted son of the Calabarzon region, Go has supported various road improvement works and the acquisition of a new ambulance to improve the delivery of key services in Bacoor City.
Other major initiatives he supported are the road improvements in the cities of Cavite, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Imus and Tagaytay; rehabilitation of covered courts in various villages in General Trias City; improvement of a sports facility in Cavite State University in Indang; acquisition of ambulance units for the local governments of Indang and Trece Martires City; and provision of medical assistance for indigenous residents in Kawit.
A relief operation was also conducted by Go’s team in Barangay Dulong Bayan last December 16 for 666 senior citizens and indigent residents. All distributions were carried out in batches to ensure strict adherence to the health and safety protocols against Covid-19.