SEN. Bong Go on Tuesday led a relief operation for 372 families displaced by a recent fire in Barangay 163 and 152 in Tondo, Manila, while renewing his call for stronger fire prevention, disaster preparedness and sustained government assistance for calamity victims.
Go, together with his Malasakit Team, distributed assistance at the Barangay 163 Covered Court before proceeding to the fire’s ground zero to assess the damage and check on affected residents. Go urged the victims to remain hopeful as they rebuild their lives. “Money can be earned, and goods can be bought, but life cannot be purchased with money. A lost life is lost forever,” he said in Filipino.“Let’s just work hard. Don’t lose hope. Let’s pray, and thank the Lord,” he added. The senator also briefly touched on developments in the Senate, saying he remains committed to his legislative duties despite ongoing political issues.“Now, I’ll keep chasing; we’ll keep working. As you know, there’s impeachment. I hope this mess in the Senate will be over,” he said. The relief operation was conducted in coordination with local officials, including Barangay 163 Captain Baby Gutierrez and other barangay officers.Each affected family received financial assistance, grocery packs, water containers, vitamins, snacks, shirts and sports equipment. Selected beneficiaries were also given shoes, mobile phones, wristwatches and bicycles. Known for supporting micro and small entrepreneurs, Go also bought food from local vendors near the evacuation site, including a siomai vendor who was among those displaced by the fire. The senator likewise highlighted the importance of strengthening the country’s fire prevention and emergency response capabilities through Republic Act (RA) 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2021, which he principally authored and co-sponsored. The law seeks to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection by upgrading its organizational structure, enhancing personnel capabilities, and improving firefighting equipment and facilities.Go also cited RA 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which institutionalizes the establishment of permanent, disaster-resilient evacuation centers nationwide to provide safer and more organized temporary shelters during emergencies. Recognizing the health and financial challenges faced by disaster victims, he underscored the role of Malasakit Centers in providing medical and financial assistance to indigent patients. He principally authored and sponsored RA 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized one-stop shops for government medical assistance. The Department of Health said 167 Malasakit Centers are now operating nationwide and have assisted more than 17 million Filipinos. In Manila, beneficiaries may seek assistance at the Malasakit Centers located in Tondo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center and San Lazaro Hospital. Before concluding his visit, Go assured fire victims of his continued support. “Thank you, everyone. My office is always open for you all,” he said.
