Misamis Oriental leaders go for Bong Go

FORMER SPECIAL Assistant to the President (SAP) and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go secured the support of Misamis Oriental political bigwigs, led by Governor Yevgeny Vicente “Bambi” Emano and his supporters.

Go was invited by Gov. Emano as guest of honor and speaker in a special event dubbed as “Fellowship of Leaders and Supporters of Gov. Bambi Emano and Usec. Pompee La Viña with Bong Go.”

The former SAP was warmly received by Gov. Emano and his father, former Cagayan De Oro City Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano, former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary La Viña, former congressman Rufus Rodriguez, ABAMIN Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, and other local officials.

“Maraming maraming salamat po sa napakainit na pagtanggap niyo sa akin. Your unwavering support has kept me driven and motivated to continuously be of service to our country and the Filipino people,” Go told his allies and friends.

The elder Emano founded the Padayon Pilipino, a regional party that has recently aligned with Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte.

Gov. Emano is seeking re-election while former congressman Rodriguez – national chairman of the Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines – is making a comeback, as his party has allied with Padayon-HNP. On the other hand, La Viña is running for mayor of Cagayan De Oro City in tandem with the elder Emano who is running for vice mayor.

Go is a candidate of the PDP-Laban and endorsed by the HNP regional party. The former SAP assured the leaders of the province that given the chance to serve in the Senate he would continue the kind of service to the people that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is known for. “Kung papalarin po ako sa Senado, ipagpapatuloy ko po ang pagseserbisyo at hindi lang kung anong klaseng serbisyo kundi serbisyong tatak Duterte,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials of the different municipalities of the province who belong to the National Unity Party (NUP) also expressed their support for Go when he joined them for lunch at Kagay-Anon Restaurant, Limketkai, Cagayan De Oro City. The province is composed of 23 municipalities and two component cities, organized into two legislative districts and further subdivided into 424 barangays. The provincial capital, Cagayan de Oro City, is a highly urbanized city administered independently from the province.

Villanueva town mayor Mayor Jennie Yu expressed gratitude for the importance Go accorded to her group when they visited Malacanang Palace. “We don’t usually feel heard or valued by cabinet members, but with SAP Bong we’re heard,” she said.

Go appealed to the local officials to continue supporting President Rodrigo Duterte as he reiterated his commitment to promote the programs and policies of the administration, including the fight against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption. He added that he is guided by the advice of President Rodrigo Duterte to “serve the Filipino first.” He said his over two decades of experience serving Duterte has prepared him to a life of service to others. “Ang bisyo ko, magserbisyo,” he said.

Go added that his advocacy is inspired likewise by the words of Stephen Grellet who said: “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

After the two events, the former SAP went on to watch a Philippine Basketball Association game at the Xavier University Gym, with incumbent Cagayan De Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, who is seeking re-election as a stalwart of PDP-Laban.

In his earlier meetings with the local officials, Go bared his plans for the Senate. He said that topmost in his priority is to push for improved delivery of medical services in the country, including the institutionalization of the Malasakit Center program.

A program of the Duterte administration based on Go’s idea, a Malasakit Center makes it easier and faster for poor and disadvantaged patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies, including the DOH, DSWD, PCSO and Philhealth.

Go said he plans to push for a law to be enacted for the establishment of Malasakit Centers in more provinces and key urban centers in the country.

“Para po tuloy-tuloy ang programang ito kahit hindi na pangulo si Pangulong Duterte at mas maraming matulungan na may sakit,” he explained.

Currently, there are 27 Malasakit Centers operating in various areas of the country. The 12th Malasakit Center was launched at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan De Oro City while the latest was inaugurated on Friday, March 1, 2019, at the CARAGA Hospital in Surigao City.

As part of his health agenda, Go is also proposing more funding for public hospitals to allow them to increase their bed capacities and accommodate more patients, noting the current situation where patients in public hospitals have to share beds or stay in the corridors.

He is also supporting the call of nurses for a salary increase, at the same time calling for improved benefits for barangay health workers. “Asahan po ninyo na lagi akong magsisilbing tulay ninyo kay Pangulong Duterte. Wala po kaming ibang hangarin ni Pangulong Duterte kundi kabutihan ninyo dahil mahal namin kayo,” Go said.

Other priority concerns in Go’s legislative agenda include agriculture, education, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, anti-corruption drive, fire protection and prevention, creation of a Department of OFW, barangay benefits, and additional support for senior citizens. (Jun Ledesma)

20