PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has expressed his hope that the country’s robust economic growth will continue after the Philippine Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 7.6% in the third quarter of this year.
“We hope that we will sustain this remarkably fast acceleration of our economy. This economic performance is not an overnight miracle. I hope we will continue to sustain the many gains achieved by the Duterte Administration and current Marcos Administration as we march towards full and inclusive recovery soon,” said Go in an online interview on Sunday, November 13.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go also reiterated the need to further improve vaccination efforts against COVID-19 in order to fully open up more sectors of the economy. The senator cited the National Economic and Development Authority which stated that the high GDP growth rate is brought about in large part by increased mobility of people, due to relaxed travel protocols.
“Ako naman, kahit nagbukas na tayo ng ating ekonomiya, I continue to reiterate the need to further improve our vaccination efforts. Kaya sabi ko balansehin ang lahat. Bukas ang ating ekonomiya pero tuluy-tuloy ang pagbabakuna para mas protektado po tayo,” said Go.
While the wearing of masks has been made optional, Go continues to encourage Filipinos to do so if it is not an inconvenience.
“Ngayong boluntaryo na ang face mask, ako naman sinasabi ko, kung hindi naman sagabal sa parte ninyo, face mask pa rin tayo. Hindi natin malalaman baka bitbit natin ang sakit, walang symptoms, eh, pagdating sa bahay, nagkahawahan, doon pa tayo magsisihan,” urged Go.
“Alam n’yo, walang part two ang buhay. Isang beses lang tayong dadaan sa mundong ito. ‘Pag nagkasakit, ‘pag na-ospital, (mahirap) ‘pag lumala. Kaya mas mabuting protektado. Habang nandiyan pa si COVID, delikado pa po ang panahon. Kaya dapat bakunado para protektado,” he reminded.
He also stressed the importance of the government making it a top priority to ensure that the country's economic growth would benefit ordinary Filipinos and that nobody would go hungry or be left behind on the road to full recovery.
“Sa patuloy na paglago ng ating ekonomiya, kailangan naman natin masiguro na ang pinakaordinaryong mamamayan ay makakabenepisyo,” he said.
“Siguraduhin nating walang magutom at walang maiiwan sa muling pagbangon. Kaya dapat mabantayan din po ang pagtaas ng presyo dito sa ating bansa,” he added.
Meanwhile, Go has proposed looking into the possibility of amending tax laws in the country to relieve the burden on struggling Filipinos.
“Ako naman, sabi ko nga, pag-aralan ang tax… Basta huwag pong pabigat sa mga kababayan natin, huwag sa mahihirap. Ang mayayaman naman, kaya nilang i-subsidize ‘yon pero huwag sa mahihirap. ‘Yun na po ang iniisip natin. Huwag tumaas ‘yung presyo,” said Go.
As a legislator, Go then declared his willingness to support and advance policies that would deal with rising prices of commodities.
“Ako naman, as legislator, willing to help po ako, willing ako magtrabaho. Pag-aralan natin kung ano ang pwede nating i-amend sa mga batas… At ipagpatuloy po ang ayuda sa mga drivers, dahil tumataas po ang (presyo ng) gasolina. Kapag tumaas, i-subsidize kaagad natin sila dahil bawat piso po ay mahalaga, bawat sentimo lalo na sa mga mahihirap,” said Go.
“Sila po ang pinaka apektado dito, ‘yung mga ordinaryong mamamayan, ‘yung bumibili ng gasolina per litro, at ‘yung mga sumasakay po sa (public transportation). Kasi napakahalaga po sa kanila ang bawat piso na mase-save po dito. So siguraduhin natin (na matulungan) sila, tayo po na nasa gobyerno kaya po tayo narito para po proteksyunan at tulungan sila,” he ended. (OSBG)
