Bong Go provides assistance to fire victims in Mandaue City, Cordova

CEBU, Philippines — Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has distributed assistance to victims of recent fire incidents in Mandaue City and Cordova, Cebu.

“Ang gamit ay nabibili, ang pera ay kikitain, subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nakakabili ng buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Importante ay buhay tayo kaya pangalagaan natin ang buhay na ibinigay sa atin ng Panginoon,” Senator Go, in a video call, told victims of fire incidents in Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City and Barangay Catarman in Cordova, Cebu, as his Malasakit Team provided them aid on Friday, August 9.

Go likewise mentioned Republic Act No. 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, which he primarily authored and co-sponsored. The Act encompasses acquiring new fire equipment, recruiting additional firefighters, and providing specialized training, among other enhancements.

Furthermore, Go highlighted Senate Bill No. 2451, known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which he co-sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate. Based on the Mandatory Evacuation Center bill that Go filed earlier, the proposed legislation underscores the necessity of establishing mandatory evacuation centers in provinces and municipalities.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography also encouraged those with health issues to seek the services of Malasakit Center in Cebu City located at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, and Cebu City Medical Center.

Meanwhile, there are other Malasakit Centers at Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City, and Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. Currently, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients' medical expenses. The Department of Health reported that the Malasakit Centers program has aided more or less ten million Filipinos.

The relief initiatives were held at the Brgy. Guizo Elementary School in Mandaue City and Catarman Brgy. Hall in Cordova, where a total of 132 families received grocery packs, snacks, water galloons, shirts, masks, and vitamins.

“Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” said Go, who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need. — (FREEMAN)