SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go joined a motorcade across major public markets in Quezon City on Monday, March 3, alongside senatorial aspirant Willie Revillame, as they underscored their shared commitment to uplifting the lives of poor and vulnerable sectors.
The motorcade made stops at public areas like Payatas Market, Commonwealth Market, NEPA Q-Mart, and Balintawak Market.
In an interview, Go reiterated his call to prioritize pro-poor programs, emphasizing the need to bring government services closer to those who need them most.
“Isa lang po ang pakiusap ko, Sir Wil, matagal na tayong magkaibigan… unahin natin ‘yung mga mahihirap. ‘Yung mga pro-poor programs, kaya ‘yung mga programang isinusulong ko po, ‘yun lang po ang pakiusap ko sa inyo,” Go said.
He stressed that accessibility to government services is key to ensuring real progress for the underprivileged. “Dapat ilapit natin ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap. Salamat po sa inyong mainit na pagtanggap.“
Beyond accessibility, Go highlighted food security as a critical issue, urging greater government support for farmers. He emphasized that funding agricultural initiatives would not only benefit farmers but also help stabilize food prices for consumers.
“Unahin natin ang mga mahihirap. Pro-poor programs. Kung may pera po ang gobyerno, dapat po unahin, tulungan ang mga farmers. Dapat busog ang ating mga farmers. ‘Pag busog ang ating mga farmers, sila ay kumikita, mas bababa po ang presyo dito sa market. Tandaan n’yo po ‘yan.”
They also emphasized their shared advocacy focused on three basic needs: “Ang inyong kalusugan, ang inyong trabaho, at ang kinabukasan para sa inyong mga anak.”
Among Go’s key legislative contributions is his co-authorship of Republic Act No. 11901, or the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022. The law strengthens financial support for farmers and fisherfolk, ensuring better access to resources.
Additionally, he co-sponsored and co-authored Republic Act No. 11953, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which alleviates the financial burden of agrarian reform beneficiaries by condoning their loans, including interest, penalties, and surcharges.
To further support agricultural workers, Go also filed Senate Bill No. 2117, which seeks to provide comprehensive crop insurance protection, and Senate Bill No. 2118, which aims to expand insurance coverage and services for farmers if enacted into law.
The event took an unexpected turn at Commonwealth Avenue when 70-year-old Margarita Palacios was caught in the surge of the crowd. Amid the excitement of residents, she lost her balance and fell, hitting her head.
Noticing the incident, Go immediately stopped to check on her. He coordinated with his team to ensure she received urgent medical care and personally accompanied her to East Avenue Medical Center with Revillame.
“Lagi nating inuuna ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya noong nalaman kong nasaktan si Lola Margarita, hindi natin siya pwedeng pabayaan,” said Senator Go. “Importante na maayos muna ang kalagayan ni lola at masigurong matutulungan siya sa gastusin sa ospital.”
Still in shock, Palacios underwent a CT scan and received emergency treatment. Go made sure that the Malasakit Center in the hospital covered her medical expenses, ensuring she would not bear the financial burden of her hospitalization. His Malasakit Team remained by her side throughout the process.
While the motorcade was intended as a public engagement event, Go emphasized that his primary focus remains on helping those in need, regardless of the political season. He also took the moment to warn about the dangers of extreme heat, as several schools had already canceled classes due to soaring temperatures.
“Importante sa akin ‘yung safety at health ng ating mga kababayan. Lalo na ngayon, ang init! Marami pong mga eskuwelahan na nag-cancel ng klase. So, ingat kayo, uminom ng tubig at unahin n’yo po ang ating kalusugan,” he said during the interview.
As the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, Go’s legislative efforts institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program, which aims to reduce hospital expenses for indigent patients. Currently, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, with over 17 million Filipinos having received assistance, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
In Quezon City, Malasakit Centers can be found in multiple hospitals, including the Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital.
Beyond Malasakit Centers, Go has championed the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide. These facilities focus on primary care, consultations, and early disease detection, bringing essential healthcare services closer to grassroots communities. Through to the collective efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, funding was secured for over 700 Super Health Centers across the country.
Additionally, Go is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11959, the Regional Specialty Centers Act. This law mandates the establishment of specialty centers within DOH regional hospitals, ensuring that Filipinos outside Metro Manila can access specialized medical care.
“Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, anumang pagsubok ang ating haharapin sa susunod na mga araw, patuloy akong magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” he said.
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