Straight from Bangkok, Thailand where supported President Rodrigo Duterte in the opening of the 34th ASEAN Summit, Senator-elect Bong Go rushed to aid the 50 families affected by a fire in Quezon City.
A total of 120 residents whose houses were razed by fire that struck Barangay San Roque on June 19 were forced to evacuate to Murphy Public Market in 15th Avenue, Quezon City.
Go assured the victims that he will continue visiting areas that are hard to be reached for him to listen to the ordinary Filipinos’ concerns even when he starts his work in the Senate.
“Hindi ko po matiis na nakaupo lang sa opisina. Gusto ko aksyon na ora mismo at mabigyan agad ng solusyon ang inyong hinaing. Bababa po ako sa inyo. Kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas ay papasukin ko po para marinig at mabigyan kayo ng tulong,” the former presidential aide said.
By the end of his speech, Go left a reminder saying, “May gusto lang ako ibilin sa inyo mga kapatid kong Pilipino, alam niyo po, kung ano man ‘yung kabutihan na kaya natin gawin sa kapwa, gawin na natin ngayon dahil minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Naniniwala po ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos.”
Through the coordination of Go, the National Housing Authority (NHA) has vowed to help the victims with their housing needs.
“Nandito po ang National Housing Authority (NHA) para mag-interview sa inyo kung sino ang gustong mag-avail ng murang pabahay mula sa gobyerno, Sa inyo na po iyon,” he said.
Go also requested various government agencies to provide additional relief assistance to the affected community.
“Pinakiusapan rin po natin ‘yung mga kasamahan ko sa gobyerno katulad ng 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), at Department of Health (DOH), upang magbigay ng tulong sa inyo,” he added.
Go also pledged to give financial aid to those who want to go back to their respective provinces and provide students with the school supplies and uniforms they need in order for them to return to school as soon as possible.
Likewise, he offered medical assistance to those who are in need through the Malasakit Center.
As Go’s brainchild, Malasakit Center is a continuing program of the administration seeking to make it easier and faster for indigent patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO, and PhilHealth.
Meanwhile, in an ambush interview, Go said that he is respecting the NAMFREL (National Movement for Free Election) on their statement rejecting the postponement of the barangay election.
“Karapatan nilang kumontra dyan, but, ako po, I will push for the postponement of Barangay election… Alam niyo po, hindi naman kasalanan ng mga barangay officials na kinain po ‘yung kanilang termino,” he uttered.
“They will not accomplish a lot with the short term given to them to serve.”
“Ano ang pwede nila gawin sa dalawang taon? Eleksyon noong 2018, eleksyon na naman next year, wala sila masyadong magagawa sa maikling panahon ng panunungkulan,” Go said adding that what is important for him is to continue empowering the barangay units to fulfill their mandate as frontliners of the government.
On the joint probe of the Recto Bank Incident, he clarified that the President supports the move for a joint investigation with a disinterested third party to ensure that the result of the investigation is fair and neutral.
“Government interest is to protect the fishermen’s interest.”
“Base sa napagusapan namin sa Thailand, the President is pushing for the joint investigation. Ang plano nga n’ya ay may (kasamang) pangatlong (disinterested) party para maging neutral at patas ang imbestigasyon,” Go said.
“Rest assured po na mananagot ang dapat managot at pananagutan nila kung ano ang damages na ginawa nila sa ating mga mandaragat. Government interest is (to protect) the fishermen’s interest. Ang interes po nila ang uunahin namin ni Pangulong Duterte… 100 percent interes ng Pilipino ang ipaglalaban ko,” he uttered.
Apart from providing help to fire survivors, Go joined tricycle drivers and operators in a boodle fight. He ate home-cooked food with them, traded stories, and expressed solidarity with them in trying to earn a decent living to provide a better future for their families.
“Ipagpapatuloy at papalakasin natin ang laban upang matigil ang korapsyon, kriminalidad at iligal na droga sa bansa. Bilang mga ama, nais natin maprotektahan ang ating mga pamilya at mabigyan ng mas magandang kinabukasan ang ating mga anak,” he concluded.