SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go underlined the significance of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s foreign trips to help boost the Philippines’ economic activity.

“Ang ating Pangulo po ang number one manager natin sa pag-e-encourage ng mga investor. Gaya po ng panahon rin ni (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, during the first year po ng kanyang presidency, ay talagang umiikot po ang presidente, at not only umiikot, nagbibigay courtesy sa ibang leader ng ibang bansa, but also to promote also our country, to encourage investors,” explained Go in an ambush interview in Kawit, Cavite when asked about issues surrounding President Marcos’ international trips. The senator was in the town to attend the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center.

Go defended President Marcos and explained that these foreign trips can significantly help the Philippines attract potential investors.

Go acknowledged how the country’s economy took a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, the senator cited the need for the President to conduct face-to-face diplomatic engagements in order to help uplift the economy, initiate alliances, and open doors to more opportunities that would benefit the country and Filipinos.

“Ako naman po ay naniniwala na during itong first year niya, malaking bagay po na siya mismo ang umikot at magpakilala at to encourage investors na napakaganda po ng ating bansa at napaka-stable na po ng ating bansa,” said Go.

“Sa pagbubukas muli ng ating ekonomiya, mahigit dalawang taon pong bagsak ang ating industriya, marami po ang nawalan ng trabaho at hanapbuhay, kailangan po nating i-promote muli ang ating bansa,” he highlighted.

Senator Go also expressed his optimism that these foreign trips would be vital in addressing the needs and concerns of vulnerable sectors toward a full and holistic economic recovery where no Filipino is left behind.

“The President is our number one marketing agent po, naintindihan ko naman po na kailangan n’ya talagang i-encourage ang mga investor na pumasok po sa ating bansa. Bigyan muna natin ng pagkakataon ang ating mahal na Pangulong Marcos na gawin po ang kanyang trabaho. Para po ito sa kapakanan ng ating bansa,” Go reiterated.

Go has likewise recognized several of the key agreements made during Marcos’ foreign trips, such as the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Development and Promotion of Creative Economy between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of the Philippine; Renewal of MOU on Water Collaboration between the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System of the Philippines and the Public Utilities Board of Singapore; Implementation of the MOU on tourism between the Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China; and Mutual recognition agreement between the General Administration of Customs of China and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of the Philippines on authorized economic operator program, among others.

The President was also successful after he attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, where a handful of foreign investors expressed their interest to bring in economic activities in the country. Meanwhile, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) reported that investment pledges positively increased after Marcos’ trip to WEF.

For his part as a lawmaker, Go continues to bat for stronger government interventions to hasten economic recovery and better protect the welfare and interest of his fellow Filipinos. He specifically reiterated the importance of providing support to micro, small, and medium enterprises, and workers alike.

Among the measures introduced by Go is Senate Bill No. 1182 or the proposed Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act. The proposed bill aims to strengthen the capacity of government financial institutions to provide the needed financial assistance to MSMEs, and other strategically important companies.

Meanwhile, Go also filed SBN 420, which seeks to offer temporary employment to eligible members of low-income rural households who are ready to perform unskilled physical labor for a period of time.

Under his proposed measure, there shall be a Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) under the Department of Labor and Employment, which shall provide temporary employment to qualified individuals who are poor, disadvantaged, displaced or seasonal workers willing to work for a minimum of ten days, but not more than 90 days in a calendar year.

“Habang dahan-dahang bumabalik ang sigla ng ekonomiya, dapat suportahan natin sila at bigyan ng mga proteksyon ang ating mga manggagawa dahil sila ang tunay na backbone ng ating ekonomiya,” Go stressed.

“Sama-sama nating ibabalik ang sigla ng ating kabuhayan. Bukas ang aking opisina sa kung ano pa ang pwede naming maitulong sa kanila,” he added.