Senator Christopher “Bong” Go personally delivered assistance to fire-hit families in Tondo, Manila, on Tuesday, August 12. This reaffirms his commitment to serving Filipinos in times of crisis.
“Tandaan po natin. Ang damit po ay nalalabhan, ang gamit ay nabibili, ang pera ay kikitain natin muli subalit ang buhay ay iisa lang. Kaya pangalagaan natin ang buhay na ibinigay sa atin ng Panginoon. Mahirap pong maging mahirap kaya ingat po tayong lahat ng kababayan. Huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa,” he said.
“Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, sa abot ng aking makakaya, patuloy akong magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” he added.
A total of 897 families from Barangay 105, Zone 8, received aid following the recent fire incident in the area. This effort was made possible through close coordination with Mayor Isko Moreno, Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, Barangay Chairwoman Elenita Reyes, and barangay kagawads, who helped facilitate the outreach on the ground. Councilor MC Bobby Lim and Barangay 101 Chairman Chengkay Ypon were also present in the relief program.
During the relief operation, Go and his Malasakit Team distributed food packs, snacks, water containers, shirts, fans, caps, and basketballs and volleyballs. Financial assistance was also extended to affected residents. Select recipients also received shoes and a bicycle.
Senator Go also acknowledged the national government for conducting assessments to ensure affected families may benefit and receive support in rebuilding their homes.
“Hindi ko po kayang umupo lang ako sa opisina habang ang mga kababayan natin ay nangangailangan kaya tutulong po ako… Ako po ang dapat na magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo po ako ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo,” Go emphasized.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Go further emphasized the need for sustained and institutionalized support mechanisms: “Dapat tuluy-tuloy ang serbisyo, sa panahon man ng sakuna o ng karamdaman. Kaya tinaguyod natin ang Malasakit Center para matulungan ang mga mahihirap na pasyente sa mga ganitong pagkakataon,” Go said.
Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops aiming to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. To date, 167 Malasakit Centers are functioning nationwide which aided more than 17 million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
In Manila alone, these centers are already operational in five major government hospitals: Tondo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, and San Lazaro Hospital.
Meanwhile, through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including four in Manila.
Expanding on his health agenda, Go emphasized the importance of specialized care in the regions. He principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
Along with his health-related initiatives, Go continues to push for comprehensive disaster preparedness and response systems. He is the principal author and co-sponsor of RA 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which mandates the establishment of permanent, disaster-resilient, and fully equipped evacuation centers in every city and municipality.
Complementing this measure is RA 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act of 2021, which Go also principally authored and co-sponsored. He cited the law as instrumental in improving the capability of fire personnel to respond to emergencies.
Furthermore, Go supported local vendors in the area selling ice drops and bought for everyone. Saying, “Suportahan po natin ang sariling atin.”
“Hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin yung pagkakataong ibinigay nyo po sa akin. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino. At iyan po ang pwede kong i-alay sa inyo, ang aking bisyo sa pagseserbisyo,” said Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.