Senator Christopher "Bong" Go continues to champion a stronger and more effective fire prevention campaign, as demonstrated by his team's assistance to fire victims in Zamboanga City on Thursday, July 20.
In a video message, Go reassured the affected residents, saying, "Napakahirap po ng panahon ngayon lalo na po at nasunugan kayo. Pero huwag po kayong magalala dahil andito lang po kami na handang tumulong sa inyo sa abot ng aming makakaya.”
Go's outreach team provided aid to 419 fire victims at the Zamboanga City Coliseum. The assistance included grocery packs, vitamins, masks, and snacks. Additionally, select recipients received cellular phones, shirts, bicycles, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
The senator has been instrumental in advocating for the Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, which aims to enhance the firefighting capabilities of the agency and ensure a more efficient fire response from the government.
This law, principally authored and co-sponsored by Go, mandates a ten-year modernization program for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The program includes the acquisition of modern fire equipment, the recruitment of additional personnel, and specialized training for firefighters, among other initiatives.
"Through the BFP Modernization Act, we aim to provide additional equipment, more firefighters, and monthly education campaigns to educate our fellow citizens on fire safety. Every house that burns affects the entire neighborhood, so we must double our efforts in being cautious," emphasized Go.
In addition to his fire prevention advocacy, Go advised individuals with health issues to avail themselves of the services provided by the Malasakit Center, located at Zamboanga City Medical Center, Mindanao Central Sanitarium, and Labuan General Hospital.
The Malasakit Center serves as a convenient one-stop shop where indigent patients can seek medical assistance from various government agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Go also supported the construction of four Super Health Centers in Barangays Calarian, Talon-Talon, and Manicahan — the last one’s groundbreaking was held on June 30.
These health centers will offer a range of services, including database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, diagnostics (such as laboratory tests, x-rays, and ultrasounds), pharmacies, and ambulatory surgical units. Other services include eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy, and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine for remote diagnosis and treatment of patients.
“Sa pag-iikot ko sa bansa, napansin ko na kailangan talaga ng dagdag na health facilities lalo na sa maliliit at malalayong mga lugar. Minsan po, 'yung iba ay nanganganak na lang sa tricycle sa layo ng byahe pa-ospital," said Go.
"Huwag sana natin hayaan na mangyari pa 'yon. Kaya talagang isinusulong ko ang pagkakaroon ng Super Health Centers sa mga komunidad,” he added.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.
As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has been supportive of various projects in the city, aligning with his vision to foster progress even during times of crisis. These projects include the construction of a multipurpose building that will be turned into a sub-national laboratory capacity building for serology and molecular testing, construction of a children’s park and a two-story building inside Camp Navarro General Hospital.
