Fire victims from Mandaue, Talisay, Cordova get more government aid

CEBU, Philippines — Families from the cities of Mandaue and Talisay, Cebu and Cordova town who recently lost their homes to fires received additional assistance from the government through the office of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go under the Malasakit program.

Go's team distributed food packs, shirts, masks, vitamins, meals, and sports equipment, including basketballs and volleyballs, to close to 300 affected families. Additionally, selected recipients received shoes and mobile phones.

The assistance is part of ongoing initiatives to aid disaster victims in their recovery and rebuilding processes.

In his message to the fire victims conveyed by his team, Go urged the recipients to not lose hope in recovering from the recent tragedies.

“Magdasal po tayo at ipagdasal po natin ‘yung mga mahal natin sa buhay. Ang gamit po ay nabibili. Ang pera po ay kikitain rin po natin, magsipag lang tayo. Subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. Ang nawalang buhay po ay wala na. A lost life is a lost life forever,” Go said.

In Mandaue City, the distribution took place at the Barangay Looc Gymnasium in coordination with the local government led by Mayor Jonas Cortes and Barangay Captain Kevin Cabahug.

The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), which Go advocates for and continues to support, also provided financial assistance to the victims to help rebuild their homes.

“Isinulong natin ang programang EHAP noon at patuloy ko itong sinusuportahan ngayon upang matulungan ang mga biktima ng sunog at iba pang sakuna na makabili ng materyales para sa bahay tulad ng yero, pako, semento, at iba pang pangangailangan,” Go explained.

Further, Go emphasized the significance of modernizing the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to effectively enhance its capabilities in responding to emergencies.

With the passage of Republic Act No. 11589 in 2021, which he principally authored and co-sponsored, Go stressed that modernizing the BFP is crucial and long overdue.

The senator added that as natural disasters and emergencies become more frequent and severe, it is essential to equip the BFP with technology and resources to address these challenges efficiently. — (FREEMAN)