SAP Go extends aid to Tondo fire victims

“Tignan ko paano ko kayo matutulungan maghanap ng lugar at pambayad para sa bagong mauupahan (I will check as to how I can help you in finding new places to live in),” he said. (PNA Photo)

“Tignan ko paano ko kayo matutulungan maghanap ng lugar at pambayad para sa bagong mauupahan (I will check as to how I can help you in finding new places to live in),” he said. (PNA Photo)

“Tignan ko paano ko kayo matutulungan maghanap ng lugar at pambayad para sa bagong mauupahan (I will check as to how I can help you in finding new places to live in),” he said. (PNA Photo)

TONDO, Manila — Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go headed here past midnight Tuesday after the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang Palace on Monday to provide assistance to families affected by two separate fire incidents.

His office, together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Department of Health (DoH), and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), provided immediate relief assistance to the affected families.

“Ngayon, immediate cash assistance ang naibigay mula sa opisina namin, sa PCSO, DOH, PAGCOR and DSWD (Now, our office, together with PCSO, DOH, PAGCOR and DSWD, was able to provide immediate cash assistance),” Go said in an ambush interview.

A fire broke out in 733 Kalayaan St., Hermosa, Tondo, Manila on October 6. Reports said the fire started at the ground floor of a three-storey house owned by Liza Loreto and her family.

The affected seven families are currently staying outside their damaged houses.

In his conversation with the affected families, Go said he will look into possible ways in helping them find shelter and to be able to pay for a new place to rent.

“Tignan ko paano ko kayo matutulungan maghanap ng lugar at pambayad para sa bagong mauupahan (I will check as to how I can help you in finding new places to live in),” he said.

Meanwhile, another fire incident took place on October 8, in the same district.

The fire started at the ground floor of a two-storey house along Vargas St., New Antipolo. Some six families were affected by the fire incident.

Go presented two possible options for the fire victims — for those who wish to go back to their home provinces, he said he will shoulder their transportation expenses, while for those who wish to avail of housing and relocation, he said he will help facilitate their requests to the National Housing Authority (NHA).

Aside from the additional cash assistance, President Rodrigo Duterte’s top aide also committed to provide uniforms for school children and workers who were victims of the fire.

“Nangako po ako na bibilhan ko sila ng damit para makapagtrabaho kaagad sila, makapag-aral ang mga estudyante. Pagkain rin, magbibigay po tayo (I promised to buy them clothes for them to be able to go back to work, and for the students to be able to go to school. We will also provide food),” Go said.

Go sais he also asked his staff to accompany to the hospital the fire victims who are in need of medical attention.

In line with the ‘Sapatos ni SAP, Tsinelas Ka-Swap’ program, he exchanged his pair of rubber shoes to one of the fire victims who lost most of his belongings due to the incident.

Go thanked the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the North Dagupan Fire Volunteer Brigade (NDFVB) fire volunteers for their immediate response and continued service.

He also encouraged his supporters to provide clothing and other relief goods as requested by the fire victims, as he donated some of his old clothes.