Press Release
July 7, 2019

Bong Go back in his hometown to aid fire victims; expresses support for Duterte Coalition

Senator Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go is back in his hometown as he visited the residents of Lakatan St., Cabaguio, Brgy. Wilfredo Aquino, Agdao as they appealed for assistance after a fire broke out on Saturday afternoon.

It can be remembered that on January last year, the same area was also swept by fire that left hundreds of families homeless. This kind of incidents pushed Senator Go to file the Fire Protection Modernization Bill.

The said bill seeks to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection with the adoption of a Fire Protection Modernization Program, which 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.

"Noong taong 2008 pa naisabatas ang Fire Code of the Philippines subalit matapos ang ilang taon ay hindi naging prayoridad ang pag-modernisa ng ating Bureau of Fire Protection. 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 sa pagresponde sa sunog," Go stated.

"Masakit at masyadong mahirap po ang masunugan ng bahay at mawalan ng mga minamahal sa buhay dahil sa mga sunog," the Senator added.

Go personally extended his help to each family by giving them financial assistance, grocery packs and school supplies.

"Mayroon po akong personal na tulong mula sa aking mga kaibigan. Financial assistance at pagkain. May dala rin ho ako na bagong school supplies at uniporme para makabalik na sa eskwela ang mga bata na nabiktima ng sunog," he said.

He, likewise, tapped various government agencies to provide further relief assistance to the fire victims.

"Pinakiusapan ko po ang mga dating kasamahan ko sa gobyerno katulad ng DTI, DSWD, PAGCOR, DOH, PCSO, at PCUP na magbigay ng tulong para sa mga nasunugan. Laging handa ang inyong gobyerno para makaahon ang mga biktima ng sunog at kalamidad," Go added.

The Senator also assured the victims that by coordinating with the NHA, they can avail housing assistance from the agency, saying, "Kakausapin ko po ang NHA kung saan sila may pinakamalapit na proyekto para maka-avail ang mga nasunugan ng murang pabahay."

Senator Go on Tuesday also filed the "National Housing Development, Production and Financing (NHDPF) Act of 2020" that seeks to institutionalize a program to address the housing needs of Filipinos by generating and mobilizing sustainable funds for housing, and encouraging public and private sector participation in the said program.

The Senator would like to make sure that every family is given a decent home as he witnessed in his recent fire visits the need for a proper nationwide housing roadmap.

"Dagdagan natin ang pondo ng NHA at suportahan ang mga programa ng gobyerno sa pabahay para matugunan ang pangangailangan sa pabahay ng ating mga mamamayan. Sana po ay walang kababayan ang magiging iskwater sa sarili nating bayan," he uttered.

Meanwhile, in an ambush interview, Senator Go expressed his support to the 'Duterte Coalition' and explained that he is one with them in their effort to unite Congress behind the administration for the betterment of the Filipino people.

Hugpong ng Pagbabago headed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod headed by Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte created the Duterte Coalition which aimed at uniting congressmen behind the Duterte administration.

"Ako po ay sumusuporta kay Mayor Sara Duterte at kay Congressman Pulong Duterte... Malaki po ang utang na loob ko sa pamilyang Duterte. At the end of the day, sa Davao City po ako uuwi kaya full support po ako sa leadership ng HNP. Isa rin po akong miyembro ng HNP. Kung ano po ang makakabuti sa bansa ay susuportahan ko po ito," Go told the press.

Go added that being a Senator, he does not want to meddle with the affairs of the Lower House of Congress. He however clarified that he only wants the best for the country in pushing for the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration.

"Kung ako po ang tatanungin niyo, ako po ay isang senador at hindi po kami nangingialam sa liderato ng congress. Si Pangulong Duterte naman po ang palagi niyang sinasabi ayaw niya sana po mangialam diyan po sa pagpili ng speaker of the house dahil meron naman pong 304 na congressman na sila nalang po ang mamili, among themselves kung sino sa tingin nilang ang mamuno sakanila. Subalit pilit po nila binabalik kay Pangulo," he said.

"Lahat po sila fully competent at magagaling naman po sila lahat. Sana ma-enlighten lahat at piliin nila kung sino po yung makakatulong sa ating bansa in the next 3 years lalong-lalo na po sa legislative agenda na ating Pangulong Duterte," he added.

Go added that the more than the issue on the Speakership, elected officials should focus on the work to be done and make sure that services for the public are not affected by politics.

"Ang makakabuti sa kanila ay magkasundo po sila at para hindi na po tumagal itong kanilang pagpipili... kailangan na po natin magtrabaho. Alam niyo even before the SONA dapat handa na ang ating budget at tinitignan na po ito ng kongreso so ayaw po natin maulit muli na magkakaroon ng delay sa preparation ng budget. Malaki pong kawalan sa ating bansa ang pagkakaroon ng delay sa pag-approve ng budget for next year," he said.

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