MANILA – Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go kept his promise to come back and give additional assistance from the national government to more than 1,700 people who were displaced by a fire in Sampaloc, Manila on Sunday.
The top presidential aide led the distribution of financial and relief assistance to over 300 families temporarily occupying the Moises Salvador Elementary School in the said city on Tuesday afternoon.
Go was at the site located about 40 meters away from the evacuation center, immediately after the fire was placed under control and initially provided food to the victims.
“I was here last Sunday after the fire has been controlled. It was dark, there was no electricity. I promised them that I will return to bring the assistance from the national government,” he said in an interview before distributing the financial and relief assistance to the fire victims.
“It’s only a small amount. But, we are here together with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help provide the things they need,” Go added.
He explained that he was sent by President Rodrigo Duterte since the Chief Executive cannot visit all the places in the country.
“Pinapadala po ako ng ating Pangulo, kapag may nangyayaring ganito kasi hindi naman lahat ng lugar ay kaya pa niyang libutin. Itong Sampaloc nung malaman ko, papunta pa lang ang Pangulo dito sa Manila, tumuloy na agad ako dito since kapitbahay natin ito, nung nakikita may mga bumbero na tumatakbo, alangan namang hindi mo bisitahin (The President sends me whenever there are occurrences like this because he cannot visit all places. This one in Sampaloc, when I learned about it, the President was on the way to Manila. I came here since it is a neighboring place from mine. I have seen firemen who are rushing to the place so I am here),” Go added.
Aside from food and cash, the fire victims also received kits from the DSWD.
Meanwhile, Barangay 432 Chairman Ramil Barrientos expressed gratitude to the government for immediately providing assistance to the fire victims.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Presidente Duterte, kay SAP Go dahil nandito kaagad ang tulong nila (We thank Presidente Duterte and SAP Go because their assistance reached us fast),” he said.
On Sunday, a fire gutted some 60 houses along Geronimo St., in Sampaloc Manila, leaving 300 families homeless. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
