Press Release
July 3, 2019

Bong Go responds to QC fire victims, pushes for the enactment of Fire Protection Modernization Bill

True to his promises, newly elected Senator Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go continues to visit fire victims even when he already started his work in the Senate.

Go rushed to the victims of fire at Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City yesterday to listen and respond to their immediate concerns.

"Narito po ako, handa na akong magserbisyo sa inyo. Ayoko po limitahan ang sarili ko na isang mambabatas lamang. Gusto ko bumaba sa inyo para mabigyan agad ng solusyon ang mga problema at matugunan ang mga hinaing ninyo," he said.

A total of 65 families were left homeless after a fire gutted their houses yesterday morning. The victims are currently staying at GSIS covered court as their evacuation center.

Having been immersed to fire victims over the past several months, Go has decided to file the Fire Protection Modernization Bill.

The said bill, which seeks to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection with the adoption of a Fire Protection Modernization Program, shall include the hiring of more personnel, acquisition of modern fire equipment, trainings for firefighters, among others, all designed to suppress all kinds of destructive fires and prevent deaths and injuries, is one of the first bills that he filed to address fire incidents in the country.

"Masakit at masyadong mahirap po ang masunugan ng bahay at mawalan ng mga minamahal sa buhay dahil sa mga sunog," he said.

"Kailangang mag-hire pa tayo ng mas maraming firefighters na merong mas maraming mga trainings para sa kanila. Kailangan din nating makabili ng mga modernong kagamitan at fire trucks upang matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng bawat biktima," Go added.

Through his efforts, various government agencies 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) have pledged to extend their relief assistance to the fire victims.

"Pinakiusapan ko po 'yung mga kasamahan ko sa gobyerno katulad ng DSWD, DOH, PAGCOR, PCSO, PCUP at TESDA para tumulong sa inyo. Ang DTI ay nandito rin po para sa livelihood assistance at ang NHA para sa murang pabahay," Go stated.

For the students affected by the fire incident, Senator Go pledged to provide school uniforms and school supplies for them to go back to school as soon as possible, citing, "Mga estudyante, huwag kayo mag-alala, ako na ang bibili ng uniporme at school supplies niyo makabalik lang kayo sa pag-aaral."

Moreover, Senator Go remains committed to making sure that victims of disasters can rely on the government to help them rebuild their lives, that is why, he will also push for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience.

"Kailangan po talaga natin na i-scale up ang preparedness to resiliency against disasters. Napapanahon na din na talagang magkaroon ng sariling departamento na nakatutok talaga dito sa mga ganitong pangyayari," Go stated.

The said department will primarily be responsible in ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities. The department shall concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.

Senator Go also vowed to extend the term of barangay officials until 2022 to give them ample time to finish their respective programs and projects.

"Gusto niyo ba ma-extend ang termino niyo?" Go asked in front of barangay Toro officials.

"May paki-usap lang ako, huwag niyo pabayaan itong mga nasunugan. I-file ko po mamaya ang bill para ma-extend ang termino niyo from May 2020 to October 2022," Go added.

The newly elected Senator, likewise, shared in an ambush interview what he did on his first day as a Senator, saying, "Kahapon po binasa at pinirmahan ko po 'yung sampung priority bills na ipapasa ko ngayon araw."

Go filed yesterday his ten priority bills such as the Malasakit Centers Act, the Department of Overseas Filipinos Act, the Fire Protection Modernization Act, the Resolution Creating a Committee on Overseas Filipinos, the Salary Increase Bill (Equivalent to the Salary Standardization Law - Fifth Tranche), the Act Reinstating the Death Penalty for Certain Heinous Crimes Involving Dangerous Drugs and Plunder, and the Disaster Resilience Act that aims to achieve genuine change to all Filipinos.

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