Bong Go vows to prioritize long-term sports development

MANILA, Philippines — Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) and now senatorial bet Christopher “Bong” Go has vowed support for young athletes, promising to prioritize long-term sports development, starting at the grassroots level.

“Isa po ito sa aking prayoridad pagdating ng panahon: sports development po at lalong-lalo na po from the grassroots po ‘yung pag-uumpisahan natin,” Go said last Sunday at the Visayas leg of the Batang Pinoy Games at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City.

He said he wants to help develop comprehensive sports programs that involve young athletes, with the goal to produce capable competitors who would represent the Philippines international games.

“(Bibigyan) natin (ang mga atleta) ng motivation sa pamamagitan ng mga incentives. (Susuportahan) natin sila, mula (sa pagka-bata) pa lang (nila) hanggang sa kanilang pag-ti-training po. Ipaglalaban natin na mabigyan po ng additional budget ang PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) para dito,” he said.

“Aside from that, ‘yung talagang pinaka-importante, ‘yung grassroots: (sa) umpisa pa lang, sa (pagka-bata pa lang nila), kung may potensiyal ang bata, (susuportahan) natin,” Go added.

The former SAP dropped by at the Visayas leg of the Batang Pinoy Games at the Iloilo Sports Complex during his visit to Iloilo City to show support to the competing young athletes.

“Alam niyo po, itong Batang Pinoy (Games), ito ‘yung mga (tournaments kung saan kasali ang mga) out-of-school youth and (mga batang) 15 years old and below. Programa po ito ng gobyerno (kung saan ang intensyon po ng mga laro ay) ilayo ang ating mga kabataan sa droga,” Go said.   

Go also said he intends to help in establishing sports facilities to help hone the skills and talents of young athletes.

“(Tutulong) po tayo (sa pagpapatayo) ng mga sports centers sa buong bansa lalo na sa mga probinsiya; (ito) ang gagawin ko po pagdating ng panahon,” the former SAP said.

He made mention of the New Clark City, which he claimed he helped materialize, where there is a 70-hectare “all-sports-complex-into-one” facility.

“Isa po ako sa mga nagpush ng ating New Clark City. Doon na po ‘yung 70 hectare na facility na naroon na po lahat: dome, basketball (court), swimming (pool), (at iba pang facilities). All-sports-complex-into-one na po siya. Muntik na pong di natuloy ‘yun at talagang pinaglaban po namin (ito) ni Secretary Alan Cayetano (pati) ‘yung paghohost po natin ng SEA Games ngayon 2019,” Go said.

The former SAP believes that encouraging the youth to engage in sports could help prevent them from getting involved in illegal drugs and other criminal activities.

“Ang alam ko po ang basketball ay isa sa mga makapagbibigay po ng oportunidad sa ating mga kabataan at, ito, pwede nilang laruin (sa) kahit saang kanto. Bigyan mo ng bola, may ring lang po, at (makakalaro na sila). Ilayo po natin sila sa droga (sa pamamagitan ng sports),” he said.

“Alam niyo naman po ang kampanya namin ni Pangulong Duterte laban sa droga, kurapsyon, at kriminalidad so kailangan rin nating suportahan ang ating mga atleta (sa) kung anong dapat (nilang) gawin,” he added.

When he was still serving as SAP, Go said he travelled around the country to promote his 3-point agenda against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption to the youth through sports. He said his supporters have been conducting sports clinics and service caravans to promote his advocacies.

Should he win a Senate seat on the May 2019 polls, Go said his legislative agenda would focus on programs for health, agriculture, housing, education, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, fire protection and prevention, anti-drug and criminality drive, anti-corruption drive, creation of a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers, barangay welfare, and improved benefits for senior citizens.