Having immersed himself in national and local governance for more than two decades, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go can bank on his experience to craft laws on local governance if he makes it to the Senate in the 2019 mid-term elections.
Bong Go was executive assistant to then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for 20 years. He was, for more than two years, the Special Assistant to the President (SAP) of now President Duterte.
Bong has resigned as SAP after filing his bid for a Senate seat in next year’s May polls.
Based on his experience on local governance, three associations of Local Government Units (LGUs) have endorsed Bong’s Senate bid.
Go’s bid has been endorsed by President Duterte who expressed confidence his former top aide would make it to the Senate.
Go will run under the banner of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino/Lakas ng Bayan (PDP/Laban).
He is also in the line-up of the Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP), a regional political party formed in the Davao Region by presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“Go can be the voice of local government officials in the Senate due to his extensive experience in local governance,” said Davao City councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, secretary general of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP).
ULAP, the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) have passed resolutions of support for Bong’s Senate run.
“From being the long time aide of former Mayor Duterte, as well as his experience as Special Assistant to the President, Bong Go sees the problems in the ground,” said Dayanghirang.
Bong Go can use these experiences to push for laws that will uplift the lives of poor Filipinos,” Dayanghirang added.
In recent interviews, Bong said that he will push for the legislative agenda of the President and will bring to the Senate the fight for real and genuine change.
There is need to continue the mission to achieve real change started by our President, he said.
Go said that he sees his experience working under Duterte for so long as his strength in understanding and addressing the real problems of ordinary Filipinos.
“Marami akong sisilipin na mga batas, yung ibang batas na natutulog; kaya sabi ko mas kapa ko at alam ko ang nangyayari sa baba. Nasa executive ako for the past 20 years. Ramdam ko kung ano yung totoong napapatupad na batas. Akin itong sisilipin at i-improve kung sakaling palarin maging senador,” he said.
Go has also been instrumental in pushing for the Malasakit Centers to make quality healthcare more accessible to Filipinos.
There are currently fifteen cities with existing Malasakit Centers: Cebu, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila, Maasin, Dumaguete, Davao, Pampanga, Tagbilaran, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and Legazpi.
“Sa Malasakit Center, hindi na dapat mahihirapan ang mga tao sa pagkuha ng assistance mula gobyerno,” he said. He further emphasized that the Malasakit concept should be applied in all aspects of governance to make it easier for people to avail of programs and services that will uplift their lives.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop program of President Duterte to hasten the delivery of medical services and give poor patients access to free medicine, with a fast lane for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Three large associations of local government units and officials have boosted with their all-out support the senatorial bid of Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, a former top aide of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Go, who has resigned as Special Assistant to the President (SAP), has earned the support in separate resolutions of endorsement of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP). Governors of the Caraga Region in Mindanao earlier also expressed their support for Go’s bid for a seat in the Senate in the 2019 mid-term elections.
ULAP is the umbrella organization of all leagues and associations of local government units (LGUs), including LMP and PCL, and elective local government officials.
“Bong Go has exemplified the highest level of trustworthiness, dependability and sense of sacrifice in both his personal and professional capacities as he served the President and the country,” said ULAP in a November 8, 2018 resolution signed by ULAP Secretary General and Davao City Councilor Danny Dayanghirang and ULAP National President and Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara.
“Bong Go is a humble and simple man with an enormous heart for public service capable of a senatorial position,” added ULAP in the statement similar to that issued by LMP and PCL
ULAP noted that Go, who resigned as SAP to take a crack at the Senate seat, “even in his private capacity remains helpful and continues to serve the Filipino people especially the poor.”
“Bong Go is always ready to exercise firmness, and decisiveness as appropriate, never misses a chance to demonstrate empathy, and compassion for those who are in need,” added ULAP in the resolution.
After his resignation as SAP, Go has volunteered to help President Duterte in his private capacity.
Go continues to be the point man of the Malasakit Center, a one-stop-shop assistance project on health concerns, that Go started to establish nationwide as the then SAP of President Duterte.
There are currently fifteen cities with existing Malasakit Centers: Cebu, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila, Maasin, Dumaguete, Davao, Pampanga, Tagbilaran, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and Legazpi.
“Sa Malasakit Center, hindi na dapat mahihirapan ang mga tao sa pagkuha ng assistance mula gobyerno,” he said. He further emphasized that the Malasakit concept should be applied in all aspects of governance to make it easier for people to avail of programs and services that will uplift their lives.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop program of President Duterte to hasten the delivery of medical services and give poor patients access to free medicine, with a fast lane for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Go will run under the banner of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino/Lakas ng Bayan (PDP/Laban).
He is also in the line-up of the Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP), a regional political party formed in the Davao Region by presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa will share his knowledge on disaster management during the three-day gathering of the Liga ng Barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Quezon province on November 14 to 16 at the Davao Convention and Trade Center in Davao City.
Dela Rosa, who is seeking a Senate seat in the 2019 midterm election, was invited by village officials of Quezon province to speak during their disaster preparedness convention on Thursday.
The convention is anchored on the theme “Barangay Disaster Resiliency: Awareness and Resilience a Key to Survival. Sa Barangay na Handa, Kakaunti ang Sakuna.”
Organizers said the activity aims to gather inputs on disaster resiliency and a better understanding of the role of village officials in disaster preparedness.
Other invited legislators and stakeholders will speak about the potential of Quezon province in promoting barangay disaster resiliency. (Lilian C Mellejor/PNA)
Senatorial hopeful Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is living true to his new tag as Special Assistant to the People (SAP).
The former Special Assistant to the President (SAP), now a civilian but has sworn to continue helping President Rodrigo Duterte, said public service is his vice as he went into a series of visits to fire victims this week.
In Barangay 485, Zone 45 in Manila late night, Wednesday, the former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) led the provision of school and work uniforms, clothes, relief goods, meals and cash assistance to affected familes. Most donations came from supporters from the private sector while some came from Kuya Bong himself.
“Mayroon po akong mga kaibigan na talagang willing tumulong imbes na igastos po nila sa mga ibang bagay. Sabi ko dito n’yo nalang itulong sa mga mahihirap. Malaking bagay, kaunting pambili ng mga groceries, mga damit,” he added.
“Bisyo ko na magserbisyo, ” Go reiterated adding, that he won’t get tired of doing such to be able to help the poor families especially those in far-flung, hard to reach areas.
According to Go, even as a private citizen, he will do whatever it takes to uplift the quality of life of as many Filipinos, even to the point of entering the narrowest roads and remotest corner in the country.
“Ngayon nasa pribado na ako, I am considered resigned at kung saan man po ako dalhin ng tadhana ay pangako ko ‘yan sa ating mga kapatid na Pilipino. Papasukin ko kahit saang sulok, maski anong eskinita ng lugar ninyo papasukin ko. Hindi po ako natatakot kahit na pinakasulok o pinaka eskenita pa po ‘yan, mo-motorin ko po ‘yan,” Go said during his dialogue with about around 60 families who were affected by the fire that hit Sampaloc, Manila.
Meanwhile, Go encouraged those who need medical assistance to visit Malasakit Centers that caters to the poor Filipinos who cannot avail of medical treatment and medicines.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop program of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to hasten the delivery of medical services and give poor patients access to free medicines.
Go was cited by President Duterte for being “instrumental in arriving at the right decision through proper consultation” when he decided to put up Malasakit Centers nationwide.
On Sunday night (November 4), Go checked on the condition of the fire victims in Pandacan also in Manila and also distributed school uniforms, goods and cash assistance to them.
He also said that he has no time for critics saying he is more focused on doing what he loves to do and that is helping others.
“I’ve been doing this when I was still in the government. It is a normal thing. Ngayon lang nabibigyan ng kulay, ” he said adding that he will continue to help his countrymen even in his private capacity.
On November 2, Go also visited and gave assistance to victims of two recent fire incidents in southern Mindanao.
He also extended assistance to victims of the fire that razed 50 shanties in Mandaluyong City on October 20.
The visits, he said, opened his eyes on how important fire safety measures are.
If elected, he said that improving fire safety measures across the country will be part of his legislative agenda to be able to prevent loss of lives and properties.
“Paiigtingin po natin ang mga batas ukol sa Fire Safety Measures, kasali na diyaan ‘yung pag support sa Bureau of Fire and Protection upang makabili ng mga bagong equipment, at ang pagpapatayo ng maayos na evacuation centers,” he added.
Go reiterated that among those that he will focus on are laws that will improve the both the preventive and rehabilitative side of disaster management in the country.
“Ito ang isa sa aking gustong tutukan pagdating ng panahon kung sakaling kaawaan tayo ng Panginoon. Wala talagang maayos na evacuation Center kahit sa mga probinsya, sa syudad walang maayos na evacuation center,” Go said.
Go also accompanied President Duterte when he visited the victims of Typhoon Rosita in Northern Luzon, particularly landslide-hit areas in Mountain Province.
BY ROGER M. BALANZA
TOPNEWSNOW 