Bong Go aids fire-hit households in Barobo, Surigao del Sur

In line with his efforts to continue helping the government support disaster victims nationwide, Senator Christopher %u201CBong%u201D Go had his team deliver assistance to fire-hit families in Barobo, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday, April 4. 

In his video message, Go encouraged the victims to not lose hope and cited that the Bureau of Fire Protection is currently undergoing a modernization program to more efficiently address fire-related incidents.

%u201C'Wag po kayong mag-alala. Alam ko pong masakit masunugan, halos balik ulit sa umpisa. Pero ito na lang po ang tandaan niyo parati -- ang gamit po'y nabibili, ang pera po'y kikitain natin, magsipag lang po tayo, magtulungan lang po tayo. Pero ang perang kikitain ay di nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya mag-ingat palagi tayo,%u201D Go expressed.

Republic Act No. 11589, or the BFP Modernization Act of 2021, was primarily authored and co-sponsored by Go. It provides for a ten-year modernization program that includes acquiring modern fire equipment, recruiting more firefighters, and developing specialized trainings, among others. It also directs the BFP to conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drives in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units.

%u201CMag-ingat dahil maraming bahay na dikit-dikit. Alam niyo, bawat bahay na nasusunog, damay 'yung kapitbahay dahil dikit-dikit 'yung bahay, ganoon po 'yung kadalasang nangyayari. Kaya mag-ingat po tayo mga kababayan ko,%u201D he added. 

Go%u2019s outreach team held the relief activity at Purok 2 Poblacion Gymnasium where they distributed grocery packs, shirts, vitamins, masks, and snacks to 64 fire victims while the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance.

The senator likewise gave away cellular phones, shoes, caps, umbrellas, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select individuals. 

Continuing his remarks, Go encouraged the residents to seek the services of the nearby Malasakit Centers at Lianga District Hospital in Lianga and Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City.

The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go primarily authored and sponsored, mandates the Department of Health-run hospitals, and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City, to provide necessary assistance to particularly poor and indigent patients by covering various patient services and fees. To date, there are 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide that have helped millions of poor and indigent Filipinos, according to the DOH.

In line with Go%u2019s vision for a stronger healthcare system, he also continues to coordinate with DOH as he pushes for the construction of more Super Health Centers nationwide. 

In the province, DOH has identified strategic locations to construct such centers, including Cantilan, Hinatuan, Lianga, Lingig, Barobo, San Agustin, and Tagbina. 

The Super Health Center is a healthcare facility that offers services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 SHCs in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where SHCs will be constructed.

Go, who is also Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the construction of a flood control and drainage system in Brgy. Rosario, construction of a road from Brgys. Maticdum to Maitom, and concreting of the Brgys. San Isidro to Maticdum farm-to-market road in Tandag City.  

Other initiatives he supported in the province include the rehabilitation of roads in Barobo, Cagwait, Carmen, Madrid, Marihatag, San Agustin, San Miguel, Tago and Bislig City; construction and rehabilitation of multipurpose buildings in Barobo, Bayabas, Carmen, Cortes, Hinatuan and Tagbina; and construction of evacuation centers in Carmen and Bislig City.

%u201CNgayong Holy Week, ang personal ko namang panalangin ay ang magkaroon pa tayo ng sapat na lakas at kakayahan na maipagpatuloy ang pagmamalasakit at pagseserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya at kapasidad. Ito ang aking paraan ng paglilingkod sa Diyos dahil naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos. Bukas po ang aming opisina na tumulong po sa inyo sa abot ng aming makakaya. Magtulungan lang po tayo,%u201D he ended. 

Last March 30, Go personally attended the inauguration of a new evacuation center and led a relief operation for indigents in Bislig City. 

On that same day, Go also personally visited Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur where he spearheaded a similar relief operation for more indigents, graced the groundbreaking of the town%u2019s Super Health Center, and witnessed the turnover of a road which he supported the funding of. 

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