MANILA, Philipines — Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go recently extended  help to victims, where more than a hundred families lost their homes in a fire in Las Pinas City.

Go was at Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City to provide aid to 190 families affected by a fire that occurred on January 14.

While no casualties were reported, five individuals were injured as a result of the incident.

Around 80 houses were also affected by the fire.

Go distributed financial and relief assistance to victims during the visit. He also told students affected by the fire incident that he will provide them new sets of uniforms and school supplies so they can immediately go back to school.

“May dala po akong konting tulong sa inyo. Lahat kayo makakatanggap ng financial assistance. Mayroon din ako grocery packs para sa inyo. Sa mga estudyante rin na nandito na nasunugan ng gamit, ako na ang bibili ng school supplies para sa inyo,” Go  said.

The victims also received various forms of assistance from representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP). Some local officials were also present during the visit.

“Nandito rin ang mga kasamahan ko sa gobyerno. Ang DSWD, may dalang financial assistance. Iba yung dala ko, iba rin yung dala ng DSWD. Ang NHA naman babalik sila para magbigay ng pambili ng housing materials sa inyo,” Go said, adding that the NHA also provides low cost housing programs to victims of fire disasters.

Meanwhile, the former Special Assistant to the President urged his fellow Senators  to support the bill that he filed that seeks to amend Republic Act No. (RA) 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000.

“I am pushing for these amendments to be included in the existing law to cater to as many solo parents as possible, to help them build a stronger family despite their situation, and to support them as productive members of society,” Go said during the public hearing that the Committee on Women, Children and Family Relations and Gender Equality conducted with the Senate Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development; Finance; Health and Demography; and Ways and Means.

“Solo parents are both the breadwinners and caregivers of their families, and they should be acknowledged appropriately. As the law now stands, the privileges and benefits awarded to them are insufficient and show a lack of understanding for the complexity of their needs,” the Senator explained. (STACY  ANG/IAMIGO/Currentph.com)