On Friday, March 27, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go pushed for stronger disaster preparedness and fire safety measures as he dispatched his team to extend assistance to families affected by a recent fire incident in Barangay Gustilo, La Paz, Iloilo City.
In a video message, Go said, “Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Magtulungan lang po tayo, sino ba naman ang magtutulungan kundi tayong kapwa Pilipino. Siguraduhin lang po natin na nag-iingat po tayo.”
As the country marks Fire Prevention Month this March, Senator Go also reminded the public about the heightened risk of fires due to extreme heat.
“Bilang Fire Prevention Month ngayong Marso, ang init ng panahon, uso po ang sunog. Mag-ingat tayo,” Go stated. He urged Filipinos to heed the reminders of firefighters and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), particularly in avoiding illegal electrical connections and ensuring safety while cooking.
Go principally authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021. The law mandates a ten-year modernization plan that includes enhanced training, better equipment, additional firefighters, and nationwide fire prevention campaigns in coordination with local government units.
He also emphasized the importance of RA 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, a measure he principally authored and co-sponsored, which requires the establishment of permanent, disaster-resilient evacuation centers in every city and municipality. He stressed that preparedness means ensuring that evacuation centers are not improvised or overcrowded facilities, but permanent structures designed to withstand disasters and equipped with basic health, sanitation, and safety amenities.
Held at the Barangay Hall of Barangay Gustilo, a total of 19 fire-affected families—whose homes were damaged by the March 19 incident—received relief assistance, including grocery packs, water gallons, snacks, shirts, pens, and basketballs or volleyballs for each beneficiary, along with financial assistance to support their immediate recovery needs.
The senator also acknowledged the efforts of the national government in conducting on-site assessments to ensure that affected families receive adequate support.
Linking disaster preparedness with health protection, Senator Go also highlighted the role of Malasakit Centers in ensuring that victims of fires and other emergencies can easily access medical assistance without additional financial burden. He is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized Malasakit Centers nationwide.
Malasakit Centers serve as one-stop shops that help indigent patients reduce hospital expenses to the lowest possible amount, a critical support system during disasters when injuries and health emergencies often arise.
Currently, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, according to a report from the Department of Health (DOH), including those located at the Western Visayas Medical Center, West Visayas State University Medical Center, West Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara, and Don Jose Monfort Medical Center in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
Senator Go reiterated that true disaster preparedness requires strong coordination with the government and the community, skilled responders, resilient infrastructure, and accessible health services.
“Patuloy po akong magseserbisyo para sa inyo dahil naniniwala ako na ang kahandaan at malasakit ay susi sa pagliligtas ng buhay at sa mas mabilis na pagbangon ng bawat komunidad,” he concluded.
