Go helps Angeles fire victims, Pampanga residents
PASAY CITY — An outreach team of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go organized a distribution activity in Angeles City, Pampanga on Thursday, November 11, for families who have been adversely affected by a recent fire incident on November 7.
“Magbayanihan tayo at ‘wag kayong mag-alala dahil hindi kayo pababayaan ng gobyerno at lalong-lalo hindi kayo pababayaan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. We simply need your cooperation para malampasan natin ang pagsubok na ito. Makakabangon din tayo muli bilang nagkakaisa at mas matatag na bansa,” Go said in a video message.
Go’s team handed out financial assistance, grocery packs, meals, masks and vitamins to seven families at the barangay hall of Barangay Lourdes Sur East. The activity was conducted in batches, in strict compliance with the recommended safety and health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.
Further, the outreach team gave new bicycles to select residents.
In a separate distribution, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided each beneficiary with financial assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Earlier, Go also appealed to the government to provide cash incentives to vaccinated Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program members to encourage more of them to get their COVID-19 vaccines instead of making vaccination mandatory. Such incentives will be on top of what 4Ps beneficiaries currently receive in accordance with the law.
Go proposed that all qualified members of the 4Ps household must be fully vaccinated to receive the additional incentive.
Go also reiterated the importance of enhancing and upgrading the capabilities of BFP in addressing fire-related incidents. For this reason, the senator principally authored and co-sponsored of Republic Act No. 11589 which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last September 10.
The said law mandates the bureau to develop a ten-year modernization program that would improve its firefighting and rescue capabilities by recruiting more firefighters, acquiring modern fire equipment, and developing specialized training programs, among others.
“Saksi ako sa hinagpis na nararamdaman ng mga biktima ng sunog. Kada buwan, ilang komunidad ang ating binibisita upang makapagbigay ng tulong. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na maging handa sa oras ng sakuna kaya nag-file ako ng batas para mabigyan ng karagdagang kagamitan at personnel ang ating Bureau of Fire Protection,” Go said.
“Dapat paghandaan natin ang anumang krisis o sakuna. Kaya naman nagpapasalamat ako kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at sa aking kapwa kong mambabatas sa mabilisang pagpasa ng batas na ito,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Go also appealed to the public not to fear the COVID-19 vaccines and then urged those eligible residents to get vaccinated immediately to ensure that they are protected from the virus while helping the community eventually attain population protection leading to herd immunity.
“Mga kababayan ko, unti-unti na pong dumarating ang mga bakuna, magtiwala ho kayo sa bakuna. ‘Pag nasa priority list na ho kayo magpabakuna na po kayo para po protektado kayo at ang inyong pamilya,” Go said.
“Kung mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga anak, kung mahal n’yo po ang inyong mga pamilya magpabakuna na po kayo. Kailangan lang po ang kooperasyon, kailangan rin po ang disiplina ng bawat isa,” he added.
The Chair of the Senate Committee on Health then assured the beneficiaries with health concerns that medical assistance programs by the government are conveniently accessible through the Malasakit Centers at Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Center in San Fernando City and Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City.
The center is a one-stop shop where Filipinos, particularly poor and indigent patients, can conveniently avail of medical assistance from concerned government agencies such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
To boost development and economic growth, Go, who serves as Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of slope protection along Sapangbato River in Barangay Margot in Angeles City.
He also supported the construction of several multi-purpose covered areas in Arayat, Lubao, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol and Sta. Ana; acquisition of medical equipment for several hospitals in Arayat, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Porac, San Fernando City and San Luis; and road improvements in Arayat, Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, Mexico, Minalin, San Luis and Sta. Ana.
Go ended his remarks by commending the local government officials for spearheading the recovery and rehabilitation efforts in their community. (OSBG)
