CALOOCAN CITY – The people of Caloocan came out in the streets to show their support for former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go when he went around here on Wednesday.
Introducing Go to the people of the city, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan said he could not help but draw a parallel comparison between Go and President Rodrigo Duterte who started as an underdog in the 2016 election but eventually won as President.
“Siya po ang anino ni Pangulong Duterte na laging umaalalay sa kanya. Naalala ko tuloy na dati akala ko hindi mananalo dahil number 14 dati sa survey. Pero nang lumaon naging number 3 tapos pagdating ng election pwedeng number one na,” Malapitan said.
In the June 15-21, 2018 survey of Pulse Asia, Go ranked 23-31 but soared to 6-12th place in the January 2018 survey. The latest Pulse Asia survey conducted on February 24-28, 2019 showed Go in the 3rd-5th place.
Dr. Maria Ana Tabunda, Research Director of Pulse Asia, said it is even possible Go may surge anew to become number one, particularly with the strong endorsement of President Duterte.
Go thanked the people of Caloocan for their warm reception, including Mayor Malapitan and the rest of the city for hosting the event. “Maraming salamat po. First time ko po mag-motorcade dito sa Metro Manila, napakainit ng pagtanggap dito sa Caloocan,” Go said during the lunch with the Caloocan leaders.
He said the event brought back memories of 2016 when then Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte went around Metro Manila to pursue his presidential bid. “Napakasarap ng pakiramdam, nakakawala ng pagod. Maski sobrang init naglalabasan yung mga tao. Naa-alala ko tuloy yung panahon na si Pangulong Duterte po ang umikot dito sa Metro Manila na naglalabasan yung mga tao,” Go said.
Go in his short speech also took the opportunity to caution school principals and government employees to remain neutral during the electoral campaign. “Paalala ko lang po, itago nyo na lang po sa puso ninyo ang sa tingin ninyo ay makakatulong sa inyo. Kabilin-bilinan po ni Pangulong Duterte na huwag makikialam sa pulitika (ang mga government employees),” Go said.
Go said that if elected to the Senate he would support the realization of President Duterte’s promise to increase the salary of public school teachers after the implementation of the fourth and last tranche of their pay raise under the Salary Standardization Law.
The former SAP also vowed to push for the welfare of barangay officials, saying he would look into the possibility of extending the term of incumbent barangay officials whose term of office were cut short by the rescheduling of the last election for village officials.
According to Go, he would remain a staunch supporter of President Duterte’s programs and policies. “Asahan nyo, in the next three years, suportado ko po si Pangulong Duterte. Basta gagawin at gagawin po namin ang lahat para sa (kabutihan ng) Pilipino,” Go stressed.
In particular, Go said he would pursue President Duterte’s campaign against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs. “Galit si Pangulong Duterte sa mga kriminal, galit din po ako sa mga kriminal. Galit si Pangulong Duterte sa mga corrupt na opisyal, galit din po ako sa mga corrupt. Galit si Pangulong Duterte sa mga durugista, galit din ako sa mga durogista,” Go said.
However, Go said that top in his legislative agenda is to improve access to quality health care of the people, including additional funding for public health institutions to increase their bed capacity. He lamented that many public hospitals are operating over their capacity that many patients have to share beds or stay in the corridors.
“Isusulong ko rin po itong Malasakit Center,” Go said. The Malasakit Center is a program of the Duterte administration, based on Go’s idea, meant to make it easier and faster for poor patients to secure medical or financial assistance from the government.
The Malasakit Center makes such speedy service possible by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies of the government, including DOH, DSWD, PCSO and Philhealth. At present, there are 33 Malasakit Center serving the people in various areas of the country. “Gusto ko po itong isabatas pagdating ng panahon,” said Go, explaining that such a law would enable the establishment of Malasakit Center in more provinces and key urban areas, at the same time allowing the program to continue even after the term of the Duterte administration.
Go also vowed to continue serving the Filipino people with the kind of service he learned from President Duterte.
“Hintayin nyo na lang po ang serbisyong tatak-Duterte,” Go said, adding “Bisyo ko po ang magserbisyo.”
“Minsan lang tayo dumaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano yung pwede nating gawin sa kapwa natin gawin na natin ngayon. Maraming salamat po,” he added.
Other priority concerns Go have identified to be part of his legislative agenda include programs for agriculture, education, housing, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, creation of a Department of OFW, and improved benefits for senior citizens. (Jun Ledesma)
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