SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go reminded fellow public servants in the national and local level to work together in order to uplift the lives of Filipinos in need and ensure no one, especially the poor and helpless, is left behind towards recovery and progress.

“Mahalagang tandaan nating lahat na ang mga halal na opisyal, sa national man o local, ay mayroong iisang layunin: ang maglingkod sa taumbayan. Kahit may kaunting pagkakaiba ang ating mga trabaho, iisa lang ang ating layunin: ang mapabuti ang pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino. Iisa ang ating bisyo, ang magserbisyo,” he highlighted, addressing councilors from all over the country.

On Friday, March 10, he personally attended the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) National Convention, with the theme of “Commencing the Digital Information and Communications Technology for Nationwide Policy Development”, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

“You are superstars in your own right. Halal po kayo ng taumbayan… Ngunit isa lang po ang gusto kong ipaalala sa inyo. Pwede bang unahin po natin ang kapakanan ng mga kababayan nating mahihirap? ‘Yung mga walang matakbuhan, ‘yung mga helpless, hopeless kung ‘di tayo po, ang nasa gobyerno ang inaasahan nila,” Go appealed.

“Magkasama po tayo sa pakikipagtulungan sa ating kapwa Pilipino… sa totoo lang pareho ang trabaho natin. Ang pinagkaiba lang po kayo nasa municipal o city level, habang kaming mga senador naman po ay nasa national level,” he explained.

As their partner in the Senate, Go reassured that he remains dedicated to making certain that Filipinos, particularly the poor, get the necessary support they need from the government.

“Hindi po ako pulitiko na mangangako rito, ngunit tinitiyak ko sa inyo na gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya upang mabigyan ng pansin ang kapakanan ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” he continued.

Go has been instrumental in various people-centered measures, such as the Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he principally authored and sponsored.

“For five years, the Malasakit Center, which serves as a one-stop shop for medical assistance programs, has been instrumental in helping millions of Filipinos with its 156 operational centers nationwide,” he cited.

The senator, who serves as the head of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said that it is his priority to strengthen health care especially in the grassroots. Through Go’s efforts and with the support of his colleagues, sufficient funds had been allocated for the construction of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023.

“Sana ay tuluy-tuloy pa ang pagtatayo ng mga ito (SHCs) upang hindi na kailanganin pa ng ating mga kababayan na maglakbay para lamang makapag-avail ng serbisyong medikal na kailangan nila,” Go shared.

“Mahirap ang sitwasyon sa lokal lalo na sa mga 4th, 5th at 6th class municipalities… kaya sikapin natin ilapit sa kanila ang serbisyong kailangan ng taumbayan lalo na pagdating sa kalusugan,” he stressed.

Go also highlighted one of the priorities of the current administration which is to create more specialty centers in various parts of the country.

“Priority rin ‘yung mga specialty center. ‘Yung mga Heart Center, Cancer Center, at iba pang mga specialty center na kailangan pong ilapit natin sa mga rehiyon para hindi na ho sila kailangan pang pumunta ng Maynila,” he said.

In the 18th Congress, Go was able to push and sponsor the passage of 69 laws for the upgrade and establishment of several public hospitals in the country.

“Gusto nating mai-upgrade ang kapasidad ng ating mga hospital at madagdagan ang mga kama para hindi sila magsiksikan…

Napansin ko po sa kakaikot ko, isang kama, dalawang pasyente nakahilera pa sa corridor. Paano gagaling ‘yung pasyente kung gano’n po ang kanilang kinatatayuan,” he shared.

In the 19th Congress, Go shared that he continues to push for measures to strengthen the health system, recognizing the need to be more prepared for future health crises.

“Nag-file po ako ng SBN195 na naglalayong magtatag ng Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention para mas maging handa tayo sa anumang krisis pangkalusugan at ang SBN196 na naglalayong magtatag ng Virology Science and Techonology Institute of the Philippines para magkaroon tayo ng kakayahan na gumawa ng sarili nating bakuna,” he shared.

“Ang mga panukalang ito ay tugon sa pandemya at pangangailangan ng Pilipinas upang patatagin pa ang ating healthcare system dahil hindi natin alam kung ito na ba ang huling pandemyang darating sa ating buhay,” he added.

Meanwhile, Go also stressed the need to build a more disaster resilient nation. Among others, he filed SBN118 which aims to establish the Department of Disaster resilience, SBN1181 or the new Philippine Building Act, and SBN193 which aims to establish Mandatory Evacuation Centers in every locality.

“Parati po akong umiikot sa buong Pilipinas dahil ‘yan po ang aking pangako, pupuntahan ko po kayo basta kaya ng oras at panahon ko… Sunog, lindol, baha, buhawi, putok ng bulkan pinuntahan ko po iyan lahat para makatulong sa abot ng aking makakaya, makabigay ng solusyon sa problema nila, makabigay ng proyekto na makakabenepisyo sa lugar, at makapag-iwan po ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” he said.

Go then shared that he was one of the authors and co-sponsors of both RA 11641 and 11861. The Department of Migrant Workers, created under RA 11641, streamlines the organization and functions of all government agencies related to overseas employment and migration.

On the other hand, RA 11861 amends RA 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000 to grant additional benefits to solo parents, who are both breadwinners and caregivers of their families.

Go then shared his other bills in the 19th Congress which will benefit local leaders and workers, including SBN 197 which if enacted, would provide a Magna Carta for Barangays, and SBN 427 which seeks to mandate the provision of allowances and incentives to barangay health workers.

In line with the theme of the PCL convention, Go also earlier filed SBN 194 or the proposed E-governance Act to strengthen data sharing among government agencies and digitalize traditional modes of workflows for a more efficient and transparent bureaucracy.

“Bilang mga halal na opisyal, lagi nating dapat tandaan na binigyan tayo ng mandato upang maglingkod sa bayan. Tungkulin natin na magtulungan upang makuha ang tiwala at kumpiyansa ng taumbayan sa atin. Pagsikapan natin na maging tapat sa ating tungkulin at ilagay ang kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino sa ating mga prayoridad,” Go highlighted.

“Muli, hinihikayat ko po ang lahat na magtulungan upang makamit natin ang ating pinakaaasam na pangarap na isang maunlad at matatag na Pilipinas,” he ended.