Senator Christopher “Bong” Go extended support to families affected by recent fire incidents in multiple barangays in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental through a series of assistance initiatives spearheaded by his team.
“Kapag may mga insidente gaya ng sunog, lindol, baha, ang lagi ko pong tinatanong ay kung mayroong mga nasaktan. Ang lagi ko nang sinasabi, ang gamit ay mabibili natin ‘yan, ang pera, kikitain niyo ‘yan kung magsumikap lang tayo pero ang perang kikitain ay hindi mabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Importante buhay tayo at kilala po ang mga Pilipino sa pagtutulungan,” Senator Go said in his message.
The relief efforts covered three separate activities conducted on Thursday, March 19. Go’s team visited affected families in Barangays 10 and 2, followed by another fire visit in Barangays 39 and Singcang. Assistance was also distributed to 29 fire victims in Barangay 26 at the barangay covered court, in connection with a fire incident that occurred on January 26.
Beneficiaries received financial assistance per family, along with grocery packs, water gallons, meals, shirts, vitamins, as well as basketballs and volleyballs.
Go underlined Republic Act No. 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act of 2021, which Go also principally authored and co-sponsored. He cited the law as instrumental in improving the capability of fire personnel to respond to emergencies.
This Act mandates a comprehensive ten-year modernization plan to equip the bureau with advanced capabilities for fire response through increased firefighter recruitment, acquisition of modern fire equipment, and specialized training.
Complementing this measure is RA 12076, known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act. Signed on December 6, 2024, this law mandates the establishment of permanent, safe, and well-equipped evacuation centers across all cities and municipalities in the country.
As the principal author and co-sponsor of the legislation, Senator Go emphasized how these centers will safeguard the dignity and well-being of disaster-affected communities while accelerating recovery efforts.
Recognizing that disasters often lead to urgent health concerns, Senator Go, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, urged affected residents to seek medical assistance through the Malasakit Center in the province, particularly located at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized one-stop shops for government medical assistance. At present, 167 Malasakit Centers operate nationwide and have already assisted more than 17 million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health.
“Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon,” Go concluded.
