PASAY CITY -- As the Senate capped off its final session of the 18th Congress, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go vowed to hit the ground running in the next Congress – pushing for more people-centered and service-oriented legislations, and adding to the already considerable list of laws that he had successfully authored or sponsored to provide a more comfortable life for all Filipinos.
Even as a neophyte lawmaker, Go has exhibited mettle in his first three years in office as he authored 11 laws, co-authored 19 laws, principally sponsored 39 laws and co-sponsored 66 other laws in the 18th Congress. Several bills sponsored by Go have also passed the Senate and are already awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Hindi po ako titigil. In the next three years, isusulong ko pa rin po ‘yung mga important bills lalung-lalo na po ‘yung mga makakatulong sa mga kababayan natin particularly those who are helpless and hopeless. I’ll continue to give my unrelenting and wholehearted support for our Filipino people,” Go committed.
Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and staunch advocate for quality healthcare services, Go primarily authored and sponsored Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act after witnessing firsthand the struggles of low-income Filipinos in applying for medical aid from various government offices.
The Malasakit Center serves as a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent patients may conveniently access medical assistance programs from concerned agencies. To date, there are 151 centers that have assisted more than three million Filipinos nationwide.
The senator also principally sponsored 39 laws, upgrading the existing or establishing new public hospitals in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Ardently fighting for the welfare of the country’s healthcare workers (HCWs), Go also authored and co-sponsored RA 11712 which provides mandatory continuing benefits and allowances to public and private HCWs during the state of a public health emergency. He likewise served as author of RA 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law V which gives civilian government employees, including nurses, salary increases broken down in tranches.
Meanwhile, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, Go authored and co-sponsored RA 11470, establishing the National Academy of Sports. This is in line with the senator’s commitment to long-term and grassroots sports development, and vision of providing a dedicated learning facility where promising young athletes can further hone their talents while getting quality education.
Just recently, Go was also instrumental in pushing for additional incentives to the Filipino medalists who brought honor and glory to the Philippines in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Likewise a known supporter of Overseas Filipino Workers, the senator pushed hard for the passage of RA 11641, creating the Department of Migrant Workers, in a bid to improve coordination among agencies dealing with the concerns of Filipino migrant workers.
Go was one of the authors and co-sponsor of the Senate version of the DMW Act, Senate Bill No. 2234. It is a consolidated version of an earlier bill he introduced to establish the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers.
The senator is also the principal author and co-sponsor of RA 11589 or the Bureau of Fire Protection Modernization Act. The law provides for a multi-year modernization program that includes the acquisition of modern fire equipment, expansion of the BFP’s manpower, and provision of new and highly specialized training for firefighters.
Other notable legislative measures that Senator Go championed or supported, together with his fellow lawmakers include:
- RA 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which provided resources to enhance the government’s capabilities to better address the pandemic last year;
- RA 11509 or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act which establishes a Medical Scholarship and Return Service program for deserving students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) or in partner private higher education institutions in regions where no SUCs offer a medical course;
- RA 11517 which authorizes the President to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses, and certifications in times of national emergency;
- RA 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination program which authorizes the private sector and local government units to help in carrying out the national COVID-19 vaccination program;
- RA 11708 which creates the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority; and
- RA 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act which provides internally-displaced persons compensation or reparation for houses destroyed and properties that can no longer be recovered due to the attack of Islamic State-linked terrorists in the city.
Go then urged his fellow lawmakers, including the incoming members in the next Congress, to support and pursue policies that will provide a more comfortable life for all Filipinos in order to continue achieving the vision of the Duterte Administration in the years to come.
“Magtulungan po tayo gumawa ng batas para po makatulong sa mga kababayan po natin lalung-lalo na po 'yung mga mahihirap para maiahon po sila mula sa krisis ng COVID-19. Unahin po natin parati 'yung interes ng karamihan at interes po ng mga mahihirap, tulungan po natin sila,” he stressed.
Other priority measures that Senator Go is looking forward to pushing anew in the next Congress include the measures establishing the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines, Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Disaster Resilience. He vowed to also continue to push for Mandatory Evacuation Centers in every local government unit, and the E-Governance Act, among others.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier confirmed that Go is expected to continue to head both the Senate Committees on Health and Sports. (OSBG)
