Senator Go visits Kidapawan fire victims, extends aid

COTABATO CITY -- Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Friday extended financial assistance to 21 families, whose houses were razed by a fire that hit Kidapawan City in North Cotabato on August 5. 

Go, accompanied by actors Philip Salvador and Robin Padilla, met with the fire victims in Purok Cherry, Kalye Putol, Barangay Poblacion and handed over financial aid and food items. 

Daisy Gaviola, Kidapawan City social welfare and development deputy head, said four houses were destroyed by the mid-morning blaze while 17 others were damaged, affecting about 110 individuals.

The families, whose houses were destroyed,  received the assistance of PHP30,000 while those whose houses were damaged received PHP20,000 each. 

“Please take my small contribution to your recovery,” Go told the fire victims in the vernacular. “At least you have something to start with, along with these grocery items for your additional food assistance.” 

Aside from Go, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also extended various assistance to the fire victims to help them rebuild their lives. 

“Tinuod gyud diay naay malasakit og naay kasing-kasing si Sen. Bong Go sa mga kabus (Senator Bong Go indeed has a heart for the poor),” said Rodrigo Abelgas, one of the fire victims. 

Before leaving the activity, the senator promised to put up a “Malasakit Center” in North Cotabato. A “Malasakit Center” is a one-stop facility in a public hospital that houses desk representatives from the DOH, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. 

The government offices’ representatives attend to the needs of patients, through their relatives, such as financial assistance from DSWD, medicine from DOH, and documents from PhilHealth, without having to leave the hospital. 

Early on, the local government unit (LGU) of Kidapawan also distributed food packs and other basic items -- hygiene kits, blankets, mats, and canned goods -- to the fire victims. 

Kidapawan Mayor Joseph Evangelista announced that he had directed the City Planning and Development Office to coordinate with the fire victims for their possible relocation under the LGU Pabahay program. (PNA)

 

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https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078067
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