Bong Go sends aid to Iloilo fire victims
THE Office of Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go initiated a relief activity for fire victims in Barangay Camalig Ortiz and San Antonio, Iloilo City on Monday, September 5.
“I know that the situation now is difficult, especially for the fire victims while in the middle of a pandemic. However, let us help one another and overcome this crisis as united Filipinos,” Go said in his video message.
Go’s staff mounted the activities at the City Social Welfare and Development Department Office where they provided grocery packs, snacks, vitamins and masks to nine families.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided financial assistance to each affected household while the National Housing Authority committed to extend necessary housing assistance after it assessed the needs of the fire victims.
Staff from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted on-site assessments where qualified beneficiaries will be given livelihood support and scholarship grants, respectively.
Go, who serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered additional assistance to those with health concerns as part of his commitment to provide Filipinos better access to quality health care services.
He advised the beneficiaries and their loved ones to visit any of the four Malasakit Centers in the province if they need medical aid.
Malasakit Centers are located at the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara, Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, and West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Medical Center, both in Iloilo City.
First established in Cebu in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop through which agencies such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office extend assistance to and assist poor and indigent patients to cover their medical expenses. To date, there are 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
Meanwhile, the senator cited that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) continues to undergo a modernization program after the enactment of the BFP Modernization Act of 2021.
Under the said law, which Go likewise primarily authored and co-sponsored, the BFP is acquiring new fire equipment, employing more firefighters, and organizing specialized training, among others, to significantly improve its firefighting capability.
Go, who heads the Senate Committee on Health, also committed to support the construction of Super Health Centers in Iloilo City in the towns of Anilao, Carles, Igbaras, Maasin, Pavia, San Joaquin and Sara.
He had earlier personally attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the San Joaquin Super Health Center, together with Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla on August 12.
On August 17, Go also provided similar assistance to another batch of fire victims in Iloilo City and Maasin.