MANILA -- Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Tesoro Go donated some of his own clothes and shoes on Sunday to victims of Friday's fire in Manila.
Speaking before 800 homeless families, Go said he went to the fire scene straight from Davao to let victims know that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was saddened by the news.
“He [the President] is sad every time there are fire victims. What's important is no one was hurt, no loss of life. But that can't be avoided because that is fire," he said.
Go assured the fire victims that the government will do everything to extend them assistance.
“Let us help each other. For whatever you lost, the national government is here, the DSWD for food packs, canned goods, rice, mats and blankets, and the DOH has hygiene packs," he said.
Go added that the Office of the President has also prepared packed groceries and some financial aid for the fire victims.
“When I came to Davao earlier, I thought about my other clothes right away. The blessings of the Almighty to us are more than enough. So instead of keeping them, I bring them for you. Most of these are for men, I will give them to the chairman to distribute," he said.
Apart from his own clothes, Go distributed women's clothes, shoes, and watches.
From the crowd, Go picked a man wearing slippers. He swapped the shoes he was wearing with the man's slippers.
"You want what I'm wearing? Come here as long as it fits," he said.
Go inspected the site of the fire, together with DOH Secretary Franciso Duque, DSWD Secretary Emmanuel A. Leyco, and Manila 3rd District Rep. Yul Servo Nieto.
Go also assured some of the fire victims, who are natives of Davao, that the government can help them go home if they want to.
"They are Visayans who want to go back to Davao and they don't have money, I told them, go back and we will help you take the plane to Davao. Some of them are from Gensan, they might have a hard time building houses here. We will do the arrangements," he said.
Go said he is now actually making flight arrangements for those who decided to go home to Davao and General Santos City.
Even when President Duterte was still mayor, Go has already been known for his being kind-hearted, even spending his own money for the needy.
When a fire also broke in Davao City on New Year's Day, he was among the firsts to provide help to the victims.
He even went to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and brought burgers for the fire victims and hospital staff attending to their needs.
Go also personally responded by evacuating children at the height of the floods that hit Davao City on December 22.
He also helped pluck trapped residents from their homes, although he too was rain-drenched, by using a jetski. (PNA)
