TAGBILARAN City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II announced his support for Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s presidential bid, lauding the latter’s extensive efforts in helping the less fortunate and victims of calamities in Bohol despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a radio interview on Friday, November 19, Yap further stated that he will also back Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s vice presidential bid and, by extension, the Go-Duterte-Carpio tandem in 2022.

“(Si Senator Bong Go) talaga ang ating kandidato pagka-presidente at ang ating vice president ay si Mayor Sara Duterte. Iyan ang dadalhin natin sa Tagbilaran City… Kung Bohol at Tagbilaran lang ang pag-uusapan, napakalaking tulong ang naibigay ni Senator Bong Go sa ating probinsya… hindi pa nga natatapos ang pag-iikot ng kanyang team sa iba’t ibang mga bayan,” said Yap.

“Kung Tagbilaran ‘yung pag-uusapan, tayo ang unang may Malasakit Center (sa Bohol). ‘Yung mga financial assistance pati medical assistance, ‘yung COVID-19 response assistance ay kanya ring ibinigay. ‘Yun rin para sa mga barangay officials every December, lagi nandiyan at hindi niya kinakalimutan ang ating siyudad,” he continued.

The mayor clarified that the decision to support Go was made independently by his group at the city level. While he has yet to get in touch with the provincial leaders of the Pundok Padayon Bol-anon coalition, he maintained that his decision is set regardless of who the coalition endorses.

“‘Yung sa atin lang, ang ating susuportahan ay ang grupo ni Senator Bong Go and Mayor Sara Duterte para sa ating national level,” added Yap.

In response, the senator extended his sincere gratitude to Mayor Yap and his group for their backing and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Tagbilaran City’s crisis response and recovery efforts during the pandemic.

“Maraming salamat kay Mayor Yap at sa mga kapatid kong Pilipino para sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala at pagsuporta sa amin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Ang importante ngayon ay ang serbisyong ibinibigay natin sa taumbayan—kung papaano natin sila maibabangon sa kahirapan, papaano maiiwasan ang gutom, at papaano maipagpapatuloy ang pag-unlad ng ating bayan,” said Go.

“Nasa Pilipino ang desisyon pagdating ng panahon. Ako naman, mula noon hanggang ngayon, ang prayoridad ko ay ang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan. Hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataon na ibinibigay sa akin ng taumbayan na magserbisyo sa aking kapwa. Kapalit ng inyong tiwala, ibabalik ko sa inyo ang serbisyong may malasakit, tunay at nararapat,” he vowed.

One year from the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Go’s outreach teams have conducted several relief operations for over one thousand of the city’s poor and vulnerable residents, including out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, market vendors and displaced workers.

Their efforts have since expanded to supporting thousands more in various communities impacted by COVID-19 and recent disasters throughout Bohol, namely Alburquerque, Alicia, Anda, Antequera, Baclayon, Balilihan, Batuan, Bien Unido, Bilar, Buenavista, Calape, Candijay, Catigbian, Clarin, Corella, Dagohoy, Danao, Dauis, Dimiao, Duero, Getafe, Garcia Hernandez, Guindulman, Inabangga, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Loon, Mabini, Maribojoc, Panglao, Pilar, President Carlos P. Garcia, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sierra Bullones, Sikatuna, Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay and Valencia.

Meanwhile, as part of his ongoing initiative to expand access to affordable health care services, Go also pushed for the establishment of Malasakit Centers at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City and at the Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital in Ubay in 2018 and 2020, respectively.

He likewise supported various infrastructure initiatives to enhance the local economy and improve the quality of life of Boholanons. These include the concreting of farm-to-market and other roads in Buenavista and Sevilla; construction of the municipal slaughterhouse in Inabanga; improvement of public markets in Bilar and Clarin; acquisition and installation of solar-powered street lights in Getafe; and acquisition of a multi-purpose vehicle and dump truck for the local government of Clarin.

Other major initiatives he supported include the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Buenavista, Dauis, Loay, Alicia, Anda, Balilihan, Batuan, Danao, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia-Hernandez, Guindulman, Loon, Valencia and Tagbilaran City; and the improvement of evacuation centers in Panglao, Anda, Balilihan, Carmen, Corella, Garcia-Hernandez and Valencia.