BATAAN – Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) and aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go announced that a Malasakit Center will be opened at Bataan General Hospital in Balanga City, Bataan.
The former SAP gave this announcement during his visit to fire survivors of Sitio Depensa, Barangay Capunitan in the town of Orion, also located in Bataan.“May magbubukas po na Malasakit Center doon po sa Balanga, sa may Bataan General Hospital, para pagserbisyuhan po kayo,” Go said.
Sitio Depensa, Barangay Capunitan was the site of the catastrophic January 29, 2019 fire that destroyed about 800 houses, affected 1,018 families, and caused the death of a 45-year old Rey Suson.
According to Capunitan Barangay Chairman Ernesto Delona, the fire started at about 9 a.m. and was extinguished four hours later. Because of the fire, the residents were forced to evacuate to nearby Capunitan Elementary School. The destruction caused by the fire was so massive that Orion Municipal Mayor Antonio Raymundo was forced to declare a state of calamity after being authorized by the town council.
On February 1, Go and his supporters visited Orion to provide assistance and comfort to the fire survivors. Go and his team arrived at Capunitan Elementary School and quickly distributed grocery items, food packs, meals, and cash assistance to the affected families. “Nagdala po ako ng tulong pinansyal at pagkaing pananghalian para sa nasunugan. Galing po ‘to sa mga pribadong kaibigan,” he said.
Go also stated that he would be talking to his former colleagues in various government agencies to ensure that the victims of the fire would be given additional aid. He would also talk to his colleagues in the government to verify if it would be safe for the residents to return to their homes or not.
“Pinaka-importante po sa kanila ay ‘yung gusto nilang bumalik doon sa kanilang tirahan. So sabi ko, papakiusapan ko kaagad ang DENR at MGB para tignan kung safe (nga) ba talagang bumalik kung saan po sila noon. Pakikiusapan ko din po ang NHA para tignan ‘yung (barangay nila) kung suitable for relocation (ba ito o hindi). Di lang relocation kung di ire-rebuild din ‘yung lugar, (lalo na) kung maayos (pa ring pagtayuan ng housing), he said.
Go also found time to join a boodle fight and feast with TODA drivers and operators of the area. He ate with them and reminded them to join the government’s ongoing fight against illegal drugs, crime, and corruption. He then spoke about the Malasakit Center that will be opened in Balanga. “Basta Filipino ka, qualified kang tulungan ng Malasakit Center. Pera niyo po iyan, ibinabalik lang po ng gobyerno sa inyo,” Go said.
A program of the Duterte administration, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where satellite offices of DOH, PCSO, DSWD, PhilHealth, and other relevant government agencies are housed together in one location to ease the process for patients applying for quick medical and financial assistance.
Go, who was integral in setting up the Malasakit Center program when he was serving as the top aide of President Duterte, said he wants to push a law that would institutionalize the establishment of Malasakit Centers in more provincial and urban areas of the country. Aside from the Malasakit Center, Go has a legislative agenda which has programs for agriculture, housing, improved health service delivery, education, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, anti-drug and crime drive, anti-corruption drive, barangay welfare, creation of a Department of OFWs, as well as senior citizen concerns.
Go assured residents that he will be there to help and serve the Filipino people. “Alam niyo po, ang pinagbilin po sa akin ni Pangulong Duterte ay ito: ‘Unahin mo ang mga Pilipino; serve the Filipino first at di ka magkakamali.’ ‘Yun po ang aking ginagawa at asahang ‘yun po ang aking gagawin sa hinaharap dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo sa lahat ng Pilipino.” (Jun Ledesma)
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