PASAY CITY -- Despite the recent endorsement of PDP-Laban members of his candidacy for the presidency, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go emphasized that he remains focused on fulfilling his mandate and providing the kind of service that Filipinos need especially amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. He also reiterated that he is not interested to run for the presidency in the coming 2022 elections.

“Let me repeat, hindi po ako interesadong tumakbo bilang pangulo. Pagod na po ako at alam ko po gaano kahirap ang trabaho ng isang pangulo dahil nandidiyan po ako palagi sa tabi ni Pangulong Duterte. Unahin muna natin malampasan ang crisis na dulot ng pandemya,” he said.

“As I have said before, and I say it now again: I leave my fate to God, the Dutertes---whatever decision they would make when it comes to politics---and to the Filipino people, to whom I owe this privilege of serving you and without whom I would not be where I am now,” he added.

Nevertheless, Go thanked his partymates for their support to the Duterte Administration and their trust in his capabilities.

“Kuntento na po ako sa kung nasaan ako ngayon. Simpleng probinsyano lang po ako na binigyan ng Diyos, ni Pangulong Duterte, at ng sambayanang Pilipino ng mandato na manilbihan sa inyo bilang senador,” he said.

“Hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataon na ito. Ibibigay ko sa inyo ang serbisyong dapat ninyo matanggap mula sa amin at sa gobyernong palaging nagmamalasakit sa inyo,” he added.

Go said that while the upcoming election is less than a year away, leaders must not lose focus on serving the country and helping the people overcome this crisis.

“As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, my focus right now is on helping our government in addressing the pandemic, saving lives, and leading our people towards returning to normalcy as soon as possible. Bakuna muna bago pulitika,” he added.

Aside from going around the country listening and responding to the pleas of Filipinos in need, Go also continues to encourage the public to get inoculated in accordance with vaccination guidelines. He said that efforts to raise public confidence in the vaccines are crucial to protect the population and attain herd immunity soon.

“Ang bakuna po ang susi at solusyon para malampasan ang pandemya at maproteksyunan ang kalusugan ng mga Pilipino laban sa sakit na COVID-19. Magtiwala po tayo para makabalik tayo sa normal na pamumuhay,” Go said.

Data from the Food and Drug Administration showed that out of the over 11.7 million Filipinos vaccinated at the time of the study with at least their first dose, only 735 were infected with and only 65 died from COVID-19.

As of August 1, according also to FDA, out of those who were fully vaccinated, there were only 116 breakthrough infections. This represents only 0.0013 percent of the total fully vaccinated individuals then.

“Kapag bakunado po kayo, pwede pa rin kayo mahawa kaya kailangan mag-ingat pa rin. Pero klaro rin sa datos na napakaliit ng tyansa na maging malubha o mamatay kayo dahil sa COVID-19 kung bakunado na kayo. Nasa mga numero na epektibo ang mga bakuna,” said Go.

“Siyempre, kailangan pa din ang disiplina at kooperasyon ng bawat isa. Maganda na ang momentum pero dahil dumating ang Delta variant ay kailangan huwag tayo magkumpyansa. Huwag kayo matakot sa bakuna. Matakot kayo sa COVID-19 dahil nakakamatay ito,” he appealed.

As of August 14, 27.55 million doses of the vaccines were already administered. Out of these, 15.09 million individuals got their first dose while 12.46 million completed their two doses. A total of 45.57 million doses already arrived in the country while a total of 14.13 million doses are expected to arrive within August alone. More than 120 million doses are expected to arrive in the coming months, enough to inoculate all target Filipinos.

“The Delta variant is unlike anything we have previously dealt with. It is highly dangerous especially among unvaccinated Filipinos. This is why I continue to appeal to every Filipino to trust and support the efforts of the government to address this COVID-19 problem by adhering to necessary health protocols and participating in the national vaccination program,” Go stressed.

“As I have said before: We must leave no one behind. We have to be faithful to our duty to help those in need, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. This is why even as election talks continue to heat up as the days go by, I remain focused in helping communities affected by this health crisis and other unforeseen incidents,” he added.

A recent survey of 1,500 registered voters conducted by Publicus Asia ranked Go first in terms of “overall trustworthiness” among the current members of the Senate. The Pahayag-Quarter 2 survey is an independent and non-commissioned poll conducted by the firm covering the period of July 13 to 19, 2021.

In the same survey, Go also ranked top three among senators in terms of overall performance rating. Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte still enjoys remarkably high trust and performance ratings as seen in the same study conducted.

“Bakuna muna bago ang pulitika. Darating rin po ang panahon ng pagpupulitika. October 1 to October 8 filing na po. So doon natin malalaman kung sino ‘yung tatakbo. Ako naman po, please count me out, consider me last kung wala na kayong ibang mapili,” he said.

“Maraming mga Pilipinong gustong tumakbo, marami pong atat na atat. Unahin n’yo na lang sila. Ako po kung ano na lang po ‘yung tira, kung mayro’n pang matitira, yun nalang ang sa akin,” he added.

Go said that responding to the immediate needs of communities in distress is his priority at this time given that the country is in a state of public health emergency.

“Bawat araw, bawat oras, bawat minuto at bawat piso ay mahalaga dahil habulan itong laban na ito. Huwag dapat mawala ang focus natin sa tunay na kalaban — ang COVID-19. Kasama na d’yan ang hirap at gutom na dala nito,” Go said previously.

“Magseserbisyo ako sa inyo, araw-araw upang malampasan po natin itong krisis na ating kinakaharap. Unahin muna natin ito. Bakuna muna bago ang pulitika,” he ended. (OSBG)