SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go shared the optimism reflected in the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results which showed 48% of Filipinos are confident that the country’s economy will improve.

“It’s a good sign na optimistic po ang Pilipino. Ibig sabihin, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Nandiyan ‘yung pag-asa na makaka-recover na po tayo mula sa pandemya,” said Go in an ambush interview after he attended the groundbreaking of the Mati City Super Health Center in Davao Oriental on Saturday, March 11.

The said survey, which involved 1,200 Filipino respondents, was conducted last December 10 to 14, 2022. The survey also revealed that 33% of Filipinos believe that the economy will stay the same, while only 9% said that it will worsen.

This data totaled a net economic optimism score (percentage of economic optimists minus the percentage of economic pessimists) of +40, a rate considered “excellent” by the SWS.

Metro Manila recorded a +47 rate in net economic optimism, the highest among areas in the country, followed by Mindanao (+45), Balance Luzon (+40), and the Visayas (+27).

“Noon po ay maraming nawawalan ng pag-asa, ngayon po (ay) bumabalik na ang sigla ng ating ekonomiya. At ayaw ho nating masayang ang inumpisahan ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ‘yung mga ginawa po niyang mga hakbang pagdating sa COVID-19 response natin, ‘yung mga proyektong nakakatulong sa mahihirap, at ang mga Build, Build, Build projects na nakakatulong talaga hindi lang po sa transportasyon kundi sa pagbigay ng trabaho at oportunidad sa ating mga mamamayan. The more infrastructure, karagdagang trabaho po ito sa mga kababayan natin,” cited Go.

“Nagpapasalamat rin po ako kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa pagpatuloy po ng mga key programs at infrastructure projects na nakakatulong po sa ating mga kababayan,” he continued.

For his part as a lawmaker, he vowed that he will continue to support and craft measures that are aimed to improve the quality of Filipinos’ lives while ensuring no one if left behind towards recovery and progress.

Go is one of the authors and he recently co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 1594, institutionalizing the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Program to help boost recovery and promote innovation among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) especially in the local communities.

The proposed measure shall assist and capacitate MSMEs in developing new, innovative and more complex products and services through significant improvement in the areas of quality, product development, design, packaging, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, brand development, sustainability, and securing licenses, product registration and other market authorization, among others.

“Alam n’yo ang MSMEs po ay backbone ng ating ekonomiya. Tulungan po natin ‘yung mga maliliit na negosyante na palaguin ang kanilang negosyo, suportahan po dapat ito ng gobyerno.

Karagdagang negosyo po sa kanila, karagdagang trabaho. At sila po ‘yung mga maliliit na mga negosyante na may mga binubuhay na pamilya rin po. Makakatulong po ito. Importante para sa akin walang magutom, at magkaroon ng trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan,” the senator noted.

Go highlighted the crucial role of agricultural workers in ensuring food security. For this reason, Go co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 1850 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which was recently approved by the Senate.

The proposed bill aims to condone almost PhP58 billion worth of loans that Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) incurred in owning lands under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) or from other agrarian reform programs.

It can be recalled that ensuring the success of the government’s food security program was one of the priority programs as mentioned by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Dahil sa pagbubura ng kanilang utang, inaasahan natin na mas makapag-focus sila, ang mga agrarian reform beneficiaries, with their time and resources sa pagtatanim at pag-aalaga ng mga hayop imbes na problemahin pa nila ‘yung pagbayad po sa mga utang nila. Though, hindi natin masasabi na secured na po ang food supply natin dahil sa pag-condone ng kanilang utang, pero isa itong hakbang para mas makaka-focus na po sila sa kanilang kabuhayan.” Go underscored.

“Importante po ngayon dito yung dagdag na suporta po mula sa gobyerno — more agricultural inputs to make them more competitive, enhancing production katulad ng trainings, fertilizers, seeds, equipment, irrigation, farm to market roads, storage facilities, at marami pang iba. Tulungan po natin ang ating mga local farmers,” he said.