TACLOBAN CITY – Local residents came in droves to express their support to former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and the rest of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago senatorial ticket in their campaign rally here.
The 4,500-seat capacity Tacloban Convention Center, also known as the “Tacloban Astrodome” that served as safe haven for residents during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda, was filled to the rafters, with the audience spilling into the sprawling grounds of the center to watch the proceedings through television monitors.
Before he could enter the astrodome, Go was greeted with cheers from people in the grounds, several of them requesting for a selfie with him, to which the former SAP gladly obliged. “Damang-dama po namin ang napaka-init na pagtanggap ninyo. Maraming salamat po,” Go said.
In his speech, Go recalled how the province was badly hit by super typhoon “Yolanda,” noting he and then Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte were among the first to arrive to bring assistance to the distraught people of Tacloban.
“Bago pa man po dumating ang mga 911 at mga nurses (galing Davao) na pinadala ni dating mayor (Rodrigo) Duterte, nauna na po kami dito at naiyak talaga siya sa sitwasyon,” Go lamented.
He said Duterte then vowed that if he becomes President, he will prioritize the welfare of the victims of Yolanda. “Masaya po ako at nakabangon na kayo. Kaya madami kayong mga proyekto ng gobyerno dito..mga housing projects. Mabilis naman (matapos) di ba?” he asked the crowd.
Tacloban is considered a bailiwick of the administration, particularly with the formal alliance signed in November last year between the HNP and the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) as well as another regional party list.
Signatories to the alliance were Davao Mayor Sara Duterte for HNP, former congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for Lakas-CMD and Congresswoman Yedda Romualdez for Tingog Partylist.
Martin Romualdez on behalf of all Taclobanons expressed his gratitude to the Duterte administration for prioritizing the welfare of the city in rebuilding the lives of those affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Romualdez narrated how the President, through the assistance of Go, made sure that the needs of the people were addressed since the typhoon happened up until the present. He added that since day one until now, Duterte and Go have always been there to serve the people of Tacloban and the rest of Eastern Visayas.
Go told the Taclobanons that top in his legislative agenda is his advocacy to improve access to quality health care, which includes the establishment of Malasakit Center. A program of the Duterte administration based on Go’s idea, the center makes it easier and faster for poor patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by gathering together in one room all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO and Philhealth.
“Ito po ang gusto kong isabatas pagdating ng panahon,” Go said, noting that such a law would not only enable the establishment of Malasakit Centers in more provinces and key urban centers of the country but would also enable continuity of the program beyond the term of the Duterte administration. “Pera po ninyo ito, ibinabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang serbisyo para sa bawat Pilipino,” he said.
Go noted that Tacloban is among the first beneficiaries of the Malasakit Center. The existing Malasakit Center at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban was launched on May 22, 2018. The former SAP assured the people of Tacloban that they could count on him to bring their concerns to President Duterte. “Saan man po ako ipadpad ang aking tadhana patuloy n’yo po akong magiging tulay kay Pangulong Duterte,” Go said.
In an earlier interview over the radio, Go also vowed to pursue his advocacy to help the unfortunate. He had been known to take time off from his campaign schedule, visiting indigent and urban poor communities to personally assess their situation and listen to their concerns.
“Kahit saang eskinita papasukin ko para lang marinig kayo. Minsan lang po tayo daraan sa mundong ito kaya anuman ang kabutihan na pwedeng gawin natin sa ating kapwa, gawin na natin. Wala po kaming ibang hangarin ni Pangulong Duterte kundi kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino dahil mahal namin kayo,” he said.
Other components of Go’s legislative agenda include programs for agriculture, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, education, housing, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, anti-corruption, localized peace talks, creation of a Department of OFW, and improved benefits for senior citizens. (Jun Ledesma)
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