Senator Go visits Baragay Suba fire victims

CEBU, Philippines — Vowing to regularly visit victims of disasters and calamities to listen to their concerns and provide solutions to their daily struggles, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go went to Barangay Suba, Cebu City the other day to distribute food, relief and financial assistances to 638 families who recently lost their homes due to a fire.

Prior to the visit, Go witnessed the opening of the country’s 67th Malasakit Center at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital and the turnover of assistance to the victims of Typhoon Ursula in Kalibo, Aklan.

Around 312 houses were affected in the fire incident in Cebu City, 271 of which were totally burned while 41 were partially burned.

In his message, Go said he continues to go around the country to help victims of fire incidents and other disasters.

“Hindi lahat ng Pilipino mapupuntahan kami sa Senado. Kaya ako na po ang lalapit sa inyo,” he said, adding that he wants to bring government closer to the people, especially those who need government attention the most, such as victims of disasters.

“Gusto ko lang mag-iwan ng ngiti sa panahon ng inyong pagdadalamhati.  Yung mga estudyanteng kailangan ng uniporme at school supplies, magsabi lang po kayo, kami na po ang bibili” Go said in a statement released by his office.

The Senator also expressed relief that no one was injured or died from the incident.

“Sa mga buntis na naririto ngayon, pwede po ba akong maging kumpare ninyo? Gusto ko pong maging ninong ng inyong mga anak. ‘Pag nakita ninyo ako at kailangan niyo ng tulong, kalabitin niyo lang ako,” he said.

Joining him to provide additional assistance to the fire victims were representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DOH), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), National Housing Authority (NHA), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

“Nandito po ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno para mabigyan agad ng solusyon ‘yung problema ninyo,” Go added.

During the visit, Go also explained the purpose behind the Malasakit Centers which are one-stop shops where representatives from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), DOH, DSWD and PCSO are around to assist.

These centers aim to cut the time, money and effort spent by Filipinos in moving from one office to another just to seek government financial and medical assistance.

He encouraged the crowd to avail of the services of the Malasakit Center at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), which is also the country’s very first Malasakit Center after it was launched last February 12, 2018.

Malasakit Centers cover patient services and expenses, such as laboratories, medicines, surgeries or operations, with the exception of professional fees and private room accommodation.  GAN (FREEMAN)