The day after his oath taking with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang, newly-elected Senator Bong Go spent time to visit the 344 families who have been displaced by fire in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.
It was reported that one person died due to cardiac arrest, while six were hurt when a big part of Market Site, Caramcam and Mangagoy, including houses and establishments were razed by the fire.
Go rushed to the victims along with the various government agencies he tapped such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), National Housing Authority (NHA) and Department of Health (DOH) to extend relief assistance.
“Andito po ang gobyerno para rumesponde sa inyo. Hindi po namin pababayaan ang mga kapwa naming taga-Mindanao,” the legislator said.
Apart from providing immediate relief assistance and alternative housing options from government agencies, medical assistance was also given to the affected community particularly those in need of immediate medical attention.
“Ang sabi ko nga rito sa aking mga kapatid, kung sino ang gustong magpagamot dalhin ko sa Davao para ma-operahan o mapa-check-up natin. Ang mga ospital doon ay mayroong kumpletong kagamitan,” the lawmaker said.
The senator promised to establish a Malasakit Center in Bislig, Surigao del Sur so that residents can have easier access to quality and affordable healthcare.
“Mayroon na tayong 34 na Malasakit Center sa buong bansa at gagawan natin ng paraan na magkaroon rin dito sa lugar ninyo. Aayusin rin natin mga ospital dito para hindi niyo na kailangan lumayo para magpagamot,” he said.
“I will push for measures that would further help the development of Mindanao.”
Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that will hasten the delivery of medical services and gives patients convenient access to free medicines and financial assistance from different government agencies such as PhilHealth, PCSO, and DSWD.
Go promised to push for measures that would further help the development of Mindanao particularly in the improvement of healthcare services.
He said that he will push for the improvement of public hospitals such as increasing the bed capacity and providing better equipment so that every locality can have access to quality and affordable public healthcare services.
“Isusulong ko na maging mabilis, maayos at maasahan ang serbisyong pang-medikal ng gobyerno dito sa lugar ninyo. Prayoridad ko po ang pag-improve ng healthcare services sa buong bansa lalo na dito sa Mindanao,” Go said.
He also stressed that one of his priorities is to propose a comprehensive housing roadmap that can provide affordable houses for all, especially the poor and homeless.
“No one should be left behind.”
Go believes that every family deserves a decent home stating, “Isa sa gusto kong isulong ang magkaroon ng long-term housing roadmap o plano upang matugunan ang 6.5-milyong kakulangan sa pabahay. Wala na dapat squatter sa sariling bayan.”
He also pledged to push for a newer version of the Salary Standardization Law that will further increase salaries of ordinary government personnel such as public school teachers and nurses.
“No one should be left behind. Dapat holistic approach, kasama rin ang iba pang ordinaryong manggagawa sa gobyerno,” Go said.
He added that by providing better compensation for teachers and nurses, professionals will not need to leave their provinces and be away from their families just to get better opportunities in urban areas or abroad.
“Kasama sa ipaglalaban ko ang pagbigay ng magandang oportunidad na pang-kabuhayan dito sa Mindanao,” Go said.
Likewise, he committed himself to review fire safety and prevention measures through more intense fire prevention awareness drive, particularly in informal settlements where accidental fire incidents take place more often.
“Kadalasan sa mga sunog ay nangyayari sa mga masisikip na kabahayan ng mga informal settlers natin. Dikit dikit ang mga bahay na yari sa mga materyales na madaling nasusunog. Silipin at paigtingin natin ang ating fire prevention awareness campaign,” Go stated.
He also vowed to review and enhance guidelines in the issuance of permits issued by the Bureau of Fire Protection, and exercise oversight over its strict implementation to avoid such incident.
“Kailangan din ayusin ang guidelines at pagpapatupad nito kaugnay sa pagbibigay ng mga permit mula sa Bureau of Fire Protection,” Go added.
He also committed to continue visiting areas that are hard to be reached in able to hear personally the people’s concern and to address it immediately.
“Hindi magiging limitado sa apat na sulok ng Senado ang trabaho ko bilang isang Senador. Para sa akin, public office is a public service na always ‘on the Go’. Kahit saang sulok or eskinita man yan, pupuntahan ko. Mahalaga sa akin na makahalubilo natin ang ating mga mamamayan, marinig ang kanilang mga hinaing, ng sa gayon ay magiging tumpak sa kanilang mga pangangailangan ang anumang mga batas at programa na ating gagagawin,” Go said.
He left every Surigaonon a message of gratitude for electing him as a Senator, saying, “Maraming salamat sa inyong mga taga Bislig sa suporta kay Pangulong Duterte at sa akin. Handa akong maserbisyo sa inyo at hindi ko kayo bibiguin.”