MANILA – After another fire hit Barangay Tambo in Paranaque City on August 24, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher ‘Bong’ Go on Tuesday offered assistance to victims, who wanted to return to their respective provinces for good.
While underscoring the readiness of the national government to help the fire victims, Go encouraged them to go back to the province, saying Metro Manila is already too crowded for them.
“Sino mga Bisaya na na-biktima? Kung gusto ninyo umuwi ng probinsya, ako magpapasakay sa inyo. Hindi biro (Who are victims from Visayas? If you want to go home in the province, I will take care of your transportation. It’s not a joke),” Go said to the delight of the fire victims.
“Marami na po ako nagawa sa mga nasusunugan. Nagoffer talaga ako sa kanila na umuwi ng probinsya. Masyado masikip dito sa Metro Manila. Meron pa bakante lupa sa probinsya.(I’ve helped many fire victims: I offered them to go home. Metro Manila is too crowded. There are vacant lots in the provinces),” he added.
It was the second time that Go visited Tambo to lead the distribution of assistance to the 50 families displaced by the fire at the seaside area.
On May 13 this year, Go visited the same village to check on the conditions of the hundreds of families affected by the fire that destroyed houses and claimed six lives.
“Nandito ako (I’m here) to represent our President (Rodrigo Duterte) at tingnan kung ano agad ang maitutulong (and check what immediate assistance we can give and immediate solution),” he said.
Go thanked local government officials headed by Parañaque City Edwin Olivarez, and government agencies like the National Housing Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Gaming Corporation and the OP for providing immediate assistance to the victims.
Duterte’s top aide also took the opportunity to encourage the drug users in the area to avoid illegal drugs.
“He (Duterte) really hates illegal drugs. Magparehab na kayo. Libre (Undergo rehabilitation. It’s free). Seryoso talaga ang Pangulo, meron pa kayo time para magbagong bunay (The President is serious. You still have time to change),” Go said.
Meanwhile, Go said OP will pay the burial expenses of the five siblings killed in a fire that hit a residential area in Tondo, Manila on Monday.
The victims, all minors, were identified as John Mike Twister Gemeniano, 12 and his siblings Baby Michael, 7; Marcelo, 5; Mikael, 4; and Michaella, 1.
The second sibling, nine-year-old John Michael, was able to jump out of a window of their shanty.
“Sinabi po namin sa mga magulang na asikasuhin muna ninyo yun isang anak na natitira at kami na bahala sa pagpapalibing, lahat, kami na bahala, ang opisina ni President Duterte (We told the parents that you take care of your remaining son and the Office of President Duterte we will take care of the burial and other expenses),” Go said.