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The people of Quezon City on Saturday gave love back to former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go when he returned to the city on a motorcade as part of his campaign.
It could be recalled that during his stint as SAP, Go has helped many fire victims in the city. Even after declaring his Senate bid, Go would take time out to visit fire victims to listen to their concerns, cheer them up and call for assistance.
QC residents came out on the streets, cheering and waving back at him, while some even approached the mini-truck Go was riding in to shake his hand.
“Kahit sobrang init ng panahon, subalit sa sobrang init nga ng pagtanggap ng tao kahit saang eskinita kami pumasok dito sa Quezon City nakakawala ng pagod,” Go pointed out.
With barely two weeks before the elections, Go said he would press his efforts to go around the country up to the last day of campaign not just because of his senatorial bid but also, and more importantly, to meet the ordinary people and hear their concerns directly.
“Hindi lang naman po para mangampanya, para (na rin) mapangiti man lang ang ating mga kababayan. Hindi lang po yun kung meron silang gustong iparating sa ating Pangulo, minsan may nag-aabot ng sulat, (ay makatulong ako kahit paano). Gusto ko rin pong makipag-usap sa kanila,” Go said.
Upon learning that somebody recently passed away in a community along the route of the motorcade, Go decided to take time off to visit the wake and extend his sympathies to the family of the deceased.
“Kanina meron pong namatayan dinaanan namin. Nagmamalasakit lang po sa pamilya,” Go said.
The former SAP also vowed to keep his campaign clean and remain fair amid the increasing use of fake news to malign candidates and undermine their chances of winning in the elections. Go had been at the receiving end of unfounded allegations recently.
“Andyan pa rin talaga yun maduming politika. Basta kami malinis po yung pangangampanya namin,” Go said.
“Ako naman gusto ko patas na laban. Kung ano lang yung pwede mong ibigay o i-serbisyo sa taong bayan yun ang iprisenta natin sa kanila. Gaya ng sinasabi ko itago nyo na lang po sa puso ninyo kung sa tingin ninyo, sinong Pilipino ang makakapag-serbisyo sa kapwa Pilipino,” he added.
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Go had declared his full support for the programs and policies of President Rodrigo Duterte, particularly his campaign against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs.
“Ipagpapatuloy ko po ang mga pagbabagong nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte,” Go had said earlier.
Likewise, Go said he is equally in favor of infrastructure and other development projects for the benefit of the people of Quezon City and other Metro Manila cities.
Among others, Go pointed to the P356.9-billion Metro Manila Subway Projects, expected to start limited operations by 2022, that would eventually link Manila, Quezon City, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna. In addition, Go noted the P62.7-billion MRT Line 7 that would link QC, Caloocan City and Bulacan, which is expected to be completed this year.
Likewise, Go noted plans for the P45-billion Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, expected to be completed by 2020, and the P7.45-billion NLEX Harbor Link Segment 8.2 connecting Mindanao Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, targeted for completion by mid-2021.
For his legislative agenda, Go said he puts top priority in improving the delivery of health services particularly through the establishment of Malasakit Center, which seeks to help drive down to the lowest possible the hospital bill, particularly of indigent patients.
“So makakatipid po sila ….at pwede nilang gamitin yung pera (na natipid nila) na pambili na lang ng pagkain. Hindi lang yun pati yung panahon nila, yung pamasahe nila makakasave po sila dahil hindi na sila palipat-lipat ng ahensya at hihingi ng tulong. Isang araw lang tapos na ang proseso,” Go explained.
A project of the Duterte administration, the Malasakit Center makes the process of availing of medical and financial assistance from the government easier and faster by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO and Philhealth.
Go wants to enact a law to ensure continuation of the program and allow the establishment of Malasakit Centers in more provinces and key urban centers in the country.
Other priority concerns Go has identified as part of his legislative agenda include programs for agriculture, education, housing for the poor, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, creation of a Department of OFW and improved benefits for senior citizens.
“Maraming salamat sa mga kapatid kong Pilipino. Ipagpapatuloy ko po ang pagserbisyo ko dahil ang pagserbisyo ko sa tao ay serbisyo po sa Diyos,” Go said.