SHARING how he has seen first-hand the efforts exerted by President Rodrigo Duterte to fulfill his role as the country’s leader for almost six years, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go once again commended the accomplishments made by the Duterte Administration for the Filipino people.

In an interview after his personal visit to the fire victims in Sta. Cruz Manila on Friday, April 8, Go underscored how the current administration has efficiently and effectively implemented programs and policies to realize President Duterte’s campaign promises and achieve his goal of bringing a more comfortable life to all Filipinos.

“Marami po siyang na-deliver sa kanyang mga pangako. Ako po ay saksi at saksi ang taumbayan dito. Tanungin n’yo na lang po ang inyong mga kapitbahay kung nakakalakad na ba sila sa gabi — hindi tulad noon na takot tayo sa kriminal,” Go explained.

“Ngayon, ang kriminal po ang dapat matakot — sila po ang walang karapatan na maglakad sa gabi. Ang taumbayan naman ay gustong mabuhay ng tahimik — sila po ang may karapatan,” Go remarked, emphasizing that PRRD only wanted to protect the right of every Filipino to have security and peace.

The senator added that while it has been difficult to achieve all of the President’s promises because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration was still able to score significant gains in different areas, such as in infrastructure development, poverty reduction, fighting corruption, and peace and order, among others.

“If not for the pandemic na dumating sa buhay natin, ‘yun lang talaga ang pinakasagabal sa lahat. Kung hindi dumating itong pandemya … ang ganda na po ng lipad natin. Biglang bumagsak lang,” Go expressed.

“Ngayon po, unti-unti na tayong umaangat at hopefully tuluy-tuloy po ito hanggang pagtapos ng termino ng ating mahal na Pangulo,” he added.

Apart from the setbacks brought about by the global health crisis, Go also observed that six years is a short period for the President to complete all of his plans and programs for the country.

Nevertheless, Go reiterated that most of the President’s campaign promises have been satisfied.

“Campaign promise ni Pangulong Duterte, campaign against drugs, campaign against criminality, campaign against corruption in the government. Tinutupad n’ya po ‘yun… Napakaikli ng anim na taon para tapusin n’ya ito totally — mahirap po, pero ginawa n’ya po lahat sa abot ng kanyang makakaya,” he noted.

“Di ko naman masasabing perpekto dahil marami naman talagang sagabal. Marami kang gustong gawin na kabutihan pero meron talagang sagabal d’yan sa lahat. Pero very good — enough na po ibig sabihin, nine out of ten promises po ang natupad,” he added.

The senator then mentioned some of the President’s key accomplishments, such as the Build, Build, Build program that has established airports, seaports, expressways, bridges and other major infrastructures across the country. The program also paved the way for the country’s “Golden Age of Infrastructure”.

In addition to the Universal Healthcare Law which was enacted during the term of President Duterte, he also signed RA 11463, institutionalizing the Malasakit Centers program. Principally authored and sponsored by Go, the law aims to provide convenient medical assistance to poor and indigent patients. To date, there are 151 Malasakit Centers that have assisted over three million Filipinos nationwide.

Meanwhile, many Filipino migrant workers continue to benefit from various initiatives under the Duterte Administration, including the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the construction of Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga, among others. Go is also the principal author and co-sponsor of the DMW Act.

The Duterte Administration has been focused at maintaining peace and order in the country, particularly in rural areas. According to Philippine National Police, the crime rate in the country has decreased by 73.76% from 2016 to 2021, and despite criticisms, the anti-illegal drugs campaign has shown a positive outcome, with 1,223,634 drug surrenderees as of October 20, 2021.

In addition, the President also approved the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which significantly helped address the grassroot cause of local insurgencies. As of October 2021, 20,013 rebels have surrendered to the government and been given the resources they need to restart their lives through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, or ECLIP, which was institutionalized under Administrative Order No. 10 issued by President Duterte.

“So he did his best, ginawa na po ni Pangulo ang lahat. In fact, sabi ko nga sa inyo, dahil sa ginawa n’ya po ang kanyang trabaho, lahat-lahat —- talagang piniga po s’ya ng kanyang trabaho at no regrets po ang Pangulo dahil para naman po ito sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak,” Go reiterated.

“Mahirap talaga maging Pangulo…Sobrang hirap pero no regrets s’ya dahil na-deliver naman po n’ya ang mga gusto n’yang gawin para sa kinabukasan ng ating mamamayan,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Go reaffirmed that as a public servant himself, he will continue providing the necessary support to Filipinos in need by working hard to find solutions to the problems besetting the country.

“Ang trabaho naman namin bilang senador ay constituency, representation at legislation. Andito po ako para tumulong at makapagbigay ng solusyon sa mga problema at makapag-iwan ng konting ngiti sa panahon ng kanilang pagdadalamhati. Nawawala po ang aking pagod kapag nakakatulong sa kapwa,” expressed Go.

“Kung ako naman ang tatanungin wala rin po akong panghihinayang dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo. Napapasaya ko sila, nakakapagserbisyo po ako,” he concluded.