Bong Go vows positive change in countryside

Senatorial candidate Bong Go during a motorcade in Negros Occidental. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

PONTEVEDRA, Negros Occidental – Former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Thursday reached out to the ordinary people here with a motorcade around the municipality, culminating with a proclamation rally at the municipal gym.

Go thanked the residents for the reception he received here–as warm as the welcome he received when he visited other areas of the province.

“Maraming salamat po sa pagtanggap sa akin, kasing init ng panahon ngayon,” Go said.

The show of support of many Filipinos inspires him to work even harder, according to Go, particularly after the latest Pulse Asia survey showing him retaining his 3rd to 5th ranking with higher awareness and voting preference rating. 

“Para sa akin patuloy lamang po akong magse-serbisyo at pangako ko ‘yan sa taong bayan na kahit saang sulok kayo ng Pilipinas papasukin ko kayo. Ang sabi nila delikado wala akong pakialam basta makahalubilo ko lang kayo at makapag serbisyo lamang sa inyo,” Go said in an interview.

Addressing the people and officials of Pontevedra during the proclamation rally, Go vowed to support and press the fight President Rodrigo Duterte has initiated against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption.

“Kung masaya kayo (sa pamamalakad ni Pangulong Duterte), ipagpapatuloy ko po ang pagbabagong nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte, yung kampanya laban sa kriminalidad, corruption at iligal na droga,” Go said.

Likewise, Go vowed to support development programs that would spur development in the countryside and help uplift the lives of the people. Among others, he is proposing increased government support for agriculture to uplift the lives of farmers, particularly in areas whose people rely mainly on agriculture. 

“Bigyan natin ang mga magsasaka ng ayuda tulad murang abono, makinarya, seeds at pautang na maliit ang interest at mabilis ang proseso para naman matulungan silang mapaganda ang kanilang ani,” Go said.

Go is also proposing free business and skills trainings on agri-entrepreneurship to farmers and fisherfolk and their families to increase their income, as well as scholarship grants for the children to encourage them to remain in the agriculture sector.

The former SAP said it would also help boost farmer’s income with the establishment of food terminals in key regions in the country with adequate cold storage facilities to avoid spoilage of the harvest, among others.

“Isa po sa talagang tututukan ko itong improvement sa delivery ng health services,” said Go. Among others, he said he would work for the upgrading of the facilities of public health institutions and the establishment of Malasakit Center.

A project of the Duterte administration, Go explained that the Malasakit Center makes it easier and faster for poor patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government because it brings together in one room representatives of concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO and Philhealth.

“Basta Pilipino qualified po kayo. Mayroon pa silang express lane para sa senior citizens at disabled. Pera nyo po ito, ibinabalik lang sa inyo,” he said.

Go wants a law that would support the establishment of Malasakit Center in more provinces and key urban centers of the country and ensure the program would continue after the term of the Duterte administration.

Other priority concerns under Go’s legislative agenda include education, housing for the poor, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, barangay welfare, creation of a Department of OFW and additional benefits for senior citizens.

“Noon, ngayon at saan man ako mapadpad patuloy niyo po ako magiging tulay kay Pangulong Duterte. Wala po kami ibang hangarin ng Pangulo kundi kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino dahil mahal namin kayo,” Go said. 

Meanwhile, Go said the overwhelming support he has received from the people of Pontevedra and in many other places of the country vindicates his belief that Filipino voters are smart and they won’t buy the black propaganda being waged against him and the family of President Rodrigo Duterte .

It could be recalled that on Wednesday, Go took off his shirt and showed his back to the media to disprove the allegations of a certain “Bikoy” in a series of video linking him to the illegal drug trade and claiming he has a tattoo on his back containing an alphanumeric code supposedly used in the transactions. 

There was no tattoo but only marks left by ventosa cupping massage, a common therapeutic practice in Chinese medicine. 

“Klaro (na wala akong tattoo) ha? Sana matapos na itong istoryang ito,” Go said.

Go said a similar mudslinging campaign was waged by some opponent against then Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the 2016 presidential elections but likewise failed miserably. 

“Ginawa na po nila ‘yan kay Pangulong Duterte noong nakaraang 2016, nag backfire sa kanila. Alam nilang paninira ‘yon at ang tawag doon ay black propaganda. …Hindi kami maapektuhan sa ganyang bagay dahil alam namin ang Pilipino ay matalino,” Go said in an interview. /jpv