PASAY CITY -- On Wednesday, November 3, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his concern to the fire victims whose houses were hit by a fire incident in Barangay Bongo Island in Parang, Maguindanao as he sent his team to distribute aid.

Conducted at Parang Municipal Gymnasium, Go's staff gave financial assistance, grocery packs, meals, masks, face shields and vitamins to 29 fire victims. The team also gave away new pairs of shoes, bicycles, and computer tablets to selected residents.

Meanwhile, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave additional financial assistance to help them recover from the damages brought by the fire.

The National Housing Authority, in turn, provided housing assistance while the Department of Labor and Employment gave livelihood support to qualified individuals.

Go's team implemented necessary health protocols to ensure that the families were safeguarded from the threat of the coronavirus.

"Sa mga kababayan ko dyan sa Parang, sana ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. Alam namin na napakahirap ng panahon ngayon dahil sa mga nangyayari pero kapit po tayo. Hindi kayo pababayaan ng gobyernong ito. Malalampasan din natin itong krisis na ito kung magtutulungan at magbabayanihan tayo," Go expressed during his video call.

Continuing his message, Go commended President Rodrigo Duterte for signing Republic Act No. 11589 into law, otherwise known as the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act, which Go authored and co-sponsored in the Senate.

The RA No. 11589 mandates the Bureau to develop and implement a 10-year modernization fire protection program that includes the acquisition of modern fire equipment, expansion of manpower, and the provision of specialized training for firefighters, among others.

"Ang gamit po'y nabibili, ang pera po'y kinikita. Subalit ang perang kinikita ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya mag-ingat po tayo, mga kababayan ko," Go said.

"Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan naman po tayo. Kailangan natin ang kooperasyon ng bawat isa. Sa mga nasunugan naman po, huwag ho kayong mag-alala. Magtulungan lang tayo," he added.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Senator Go encouraged those with health concerns to ask for medical assistance from the government through any of the three Malasakit Centers in the province.

The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 mandates all Department of Health-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital to establish their own Malasakit Centers to help poor and indigent patients with their medical expenses by covering various patient services and fees.

The three centers are located at Maguindanao Provincial Hospital in Shariff Aguak, Cotabato Sanitarium in Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.

Senator Go likewise urged the families to join the government in ending the national health crisis by participating in the national vaccination program as soon as they are eligible. He then stressed that the government has exerted great efforts to acquire safe and sufficient vaccines for all.

"Pakiusap lang po, tumataas na po ang tiwala ng ating mga kababayan sa bakuna. Sana po'y ma-engganyo rin po ang iba para naman po ito sa proteksyon ng bawat isa," Go expressed.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go extended his support to the construction of public markets in Buldon and Matanog; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Piang, Guindulungan, Matanog, Paglat and Shariff Aguak; and the rehabilitation of roads in Cotabato City, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Mamasapano, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Sultan Kudarat and Sultan sa Barongis.

Ending his message, he thanked all local officials of Parang, including Mayor Cahar Ibay, Vice Mayor Adnan Biruar, Councilors Abdulrakman Ganduan, Zac Casim, Ibrahim Biruar, Norhaina Ito, Jinkee Kali, Gigi Saavedra, Marites Fernandez, Norhaina Dicay, King Padi, and Kenshan Lim, for spearheading their community's rehabilitation efforts and providing necessary support to their constituents, especially during these trying times. (OSBG)

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