Press Release - Bong Go sends assistance to Iloilo City fire victims while pushing for stronger fire prevention awareness within local communities

Amid the Holiday season, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go underscored the need for enhanced fire prevention awareness within local communities while assisting victims of a recent fire incident in Iloilo City.

Go's Malasakit Team conducted the relief activity at the Baluarte Elementary School in Barangay Habog-Habog, Molo District for a total of 84 affected families on Friday, December 22.

The Malasakit Team distributed snacks, water containers, grocery packs, vitamins, masks, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball.

Simultaneously, teams from the National Housing Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry evaluated the fire victims to determine their eligibility for respective housing and livelihood assistance.

In a video message, Go informed the beneficiaries that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is undergoing a ten-year modernization program, as mandated by the BFP Modernization Act of 2021. The law aims to better prepare and equip the BFP to respond effectively to fire-related incidents.

Go, a primary author and co-sponsor of Republic Act 11589, explained that the BFP modernization program includes acquiring new fire equipment, hiring more firefighters, and providing specialized training, among other initiatives.

Addressing the affected residents, Go emphasized the irreplaceable value of human life and urged everyone to prioritize safety.

"Sa mga biktima ng sunog, huwag ho kayong mag-alala. Sabi ko nga sa inyo noon, ang gamit ay nabibili. Ang pera ay kikitain, subalit 'yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever," he underscored.

He expressed concern for their well-being and encouraged them to take advantage of additional assistance, particularly for health issues, by visiting the Malasakit Centers at West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Medical Center, both in Iloilo City.

The Malasakit Centers, institutionalized through RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, are one-stop shops that enable various government agencies to collaborate and assist indigent patients with medical expenses.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Act, which paved the way for the