BATANGAS CITY — The people of Batangas on Wednesday warmly received one of their own, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who traces his roots from the Tesoro clan of the province.
“Maraming salamat po sa napakainit na pagtanggap sa akin ng aking mga kapatid dito sa Batangas, sing init po ng panahon. Batangueno rin po ako dahil ang mga ninuno ko ay galing dito sa Batangas at nag migrate lang po sa Davao,” Go said after a motorcade around Batangas City.
“Iba po talaga pag nasa sariling bayan. Totoo ang kasabihan na there’s no place like home,” he added.
Aside from having his roots in the province, Go was also formally adopted by Batangas as its own son. In February this year, the governors of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon signed a manifesto supporting Go’s Senate bid and declaring him an adopted son of CALABARZON region.
During the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally at Batangas Sports Coliseum here, President Duterte rallied the Batangueños to support Go, the PDP-Laban senatorial ticket and their guest candidates.
The President noted that Go has proven his integrity all through the 21 years of service to him and the people of the former SAP.
“Kung pera lang… ni piso hindi kumita yan,” Duterte said. “At saka talagang may malasakit sa kapwa.”
“Mahusay ito si Bong, ang bilis pa ng utak niyan,” the President added. In a previous engagement, the President also said Go learned a lot from him about public service.
Likewise, TV host Willie Revillame who joined the rally endorsed the candidacy of Go. It could be recalled that last February, the former SAP appeared as a guest in Revillame’s TV game show “Wowowin.”
“Totoong tao po itong si Bong Go at may isang salita. Nang makilala ko siya, nalaman ko na iisa rin lang ang aming hangarin sa buhay— ang tumulong sa kapwa Pilipino,” Revillame said as he delivered his messaged on stage and performed for the crowd.
Addressing his fellow Batangueños, Go assured them of his full support for the programs and policies of President Duterte.
“Ipagpapatuloy ko po ang mga pagbabagong nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte. Yung kampanya laban sa corruption, kampanya laban sa kriminalidad, at kampanya laban sa iligal na droga, suportado ko po iyon,” Go said.
The former SAP said he would also help President Duterte in the remaining three years of his term to fulfil his promise of uplifting the lives of Batangueños and the entire Filipino people, particularly through the implementation of the “Build, Build, Build” program that would further speed up the development of the province.
“Patuloy nyo po akong magiging tulay kay Pangulong Duterte. Asahan nyo po, sa natitirang tatlong taon ni Pangulong Duterte, gagawin namin lahat ng aming makakaya para sa (kabutihan ng) Pilipino lalo na para sa mga kapwa kong Batangueño,” Go said.
Among others, he noted that there are current plans for various infrastructure programs in the province including road projects, construction of public markets, as well as repair of maintenance of seawall to protect lives and properties during storm surges. These projects have been submitted for funding.
He also cited the planned Mindoro-Batangas Super Bridge, a P30.883-billion construction of a bridge to link Mindoro and Batangas, boosting economic and tourism activities in both provinces. Preparations are ongoing for the terms of reference, feasibility study and the approved budget for the contract.
There is also the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, a P2.5-billion project consisting of 18.6-kilometer, 4 lane access road between Brgys. TingaItaas, TingaLabac, San Pedro, Dumantay, Sampaga, SirangLupa and San Isidro, Batangas City, meant to reduce road congestion in Batangas City.
Go said that top in his legislative agenda is his crusade to improve the delivery of health services in the country, not only through the upgrading of facilities of public health institutions but also through the establishment of Malasakit Center.
A project of the Duterte administration based on Go’s idea, the Malasakit Center makes it easier and faster for poor patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO, and Philhealth.
“Gusto ko pong isabatas ito pagdating ng panahon para tuloy-tuloy ang programa kahit hindi na Pangulo si Pangulong Duterte at palawakin, dagdagan pa natin ang mga Malasakit Centers,” Go said.
Go also vowed before his fellow Batangueños that he would serve them and the Filipino people the way he served President Duterte for over two decades.
“Sa loob po ng 21 taon, almusal, pananghalian at hapunan ko na ang pagse-serbisyo. Ang bisyo ko po magserbisyo. Naniniwala po ako na ang serbisyo sa tao, serbisyo sa Diyos,” Go said.
“Minsan lamang po tayo daraan sa mundong ito. Kaya kung anuman ang mabuting pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo daraan muli sa mundong ito,” he added.
Other priority concerns Go has identified to be part of his legislative agenda include programs for agriculture, housing for the poor, education, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, barangay welfare, creation of a Department of OFW and improved benefits for senior citizens.
