“ILAPIT NATIN ANG SERBISYONG NARARAPAT SA PILIPINO” — BONG GO PARTNERS WITH BARANGAY LEADERS AT LIGA NG MGA BARANGAY – NATIONAL CONGRESS

On Tuesday, August 13, in an address at the Liga ng mga Barangay – National Congress Cluster 1 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, a member of the Senate Committee on Local Government, emphasized the pivotal role of barangay leaders in the nation’s governance.

Recognizing their frontline position at the grassroots, Go commended the barangay officials for their unwavering dedication and significant contributions to the development of their respective communities.

“Naiintindihan ko po ang trabaho ng isang barangay captain, barangay officials sa tagal ko po kay dating pangulong Duterte. From 1998 to 2016, alam nyo sa city hall ng Davao ay kapitan, kagawad ang mga kaharap ko. Problema nila sa hospital, sa patay, problema sa barangay. Kaya naiintindihan ko po ang trabaho ng isang barangay captain. Kaya ako po’y patuloy na susuporta sa ating mga barangay officials sa abot ng aking makakaya,” Go remarked. He highlighted how their efforts directly impact the lives of ordinary Filipinos, making them invaluable partners in delivering public services.

“Kayo ang naglalapit ng serbisyo ng gobyerno sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino. Kaya bilang inyong Kuya Senator Bong Go, magtulungan lang tayo na ilapit ang nararapat na serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan,” he added.

The congress for cluster 1 gathered barangay leaders from various provinces, including Isabela, Santiago City, Dagupan City, Palawan, Iligan City, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Cagayan De Oro City, Butuan City, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Isabela City, Basilan.

The senator acknowledged LNB National President Maria Katrina Jessica Dy from Isabela, Executive President Martina Gimenez from Leyte, Secretary General Celestino Martinez from Cebu, Auditor Marcelino Fernandez from Dagupan, Region 10 President Cesarve Siacor from Iligan, and Caraga President Gemma Tabada from Butuan, among others.

He also thanked all provincial chapter presidents, including LNB President Ferdinand Zabala from Palawan, Salvador Canlas from Misamis Occidental, Robert De Lara from Misamis Oriental, Peter Dann Romulado from Camiguin, Joseph Neri Jr. from Lanao del Norte, Godofredo Balansag from Bukidnon, Gretchen Ang from Dinagat Islands, Jaime Cortes from Surigao del Norte, Melanie Joy Momo-Guno from Surigao del Sur, Benjamin Lim Jr. from Agusan del Norte, Glenn Plaza from Agusan del Sur, Benzi Chan from Santiago City, and Yan Lam Lim from Cagayan De Oro City.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Senator Go also took the opportunity to discuss his health advocacy, focusing on key initiatives that bring health services to the grassroots like the Malasakit Centers program, Super Health Centers, and the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers.

“Ang ating layunin ay malinaw – siguraduhin na ang bawat Pilipino, lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar, ay may access sa dekalidad na serbisyong medikal,” Senator Go stated. He emphasized the vital role barangay leaders play in bringing these essential health services closer to the people, ensuring that Filipinos, especially those in remote areas, have access to quality healthcare.

He mentioned that there are 166 Malasakit Centers across the country. The Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally sponsored and authored in the Senate to help indigent patients with their medical-related expenses. Since its inception, more or less ten million Filipino centers have helped more than ten million Filipinos nationwide. He then emphasized that most of the provinces included have their own Malasakit Centers.

He also mentioned the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide. These centers aim to bring primary care, consultations, and early detection of health issues closer to communities. Through the collective efforts of Go, the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for the construction of over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.

Go, who principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, worked collaboratively with other legislators for the passage of this landmark legislation. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.

Go’s message resonated deeply with the attendees, inspiring them to maintain their dedication to community service and reinforcing the vital role they play in the country’s development. His words served as a reminder that every effort made at the barangay level contributes to the broader national progress.

He is a co-author of Republic Act No. 11768, which now provides monthly honorariums and other benefits to SK leaders, and earmarks 10% of barangay funds for youth development programs.

Further emphasizing his dedication to community development, Go talked about his other legislative initiatives, including the filing of Senate Bill No. 197, or the Magna Carta for Barangays, aimed at securing salaries and benefits for barangay officials. He also mentioned Senate Bill No. 427, proposing comprehensive benefits for Barangay Health Workers.

Additionally, he filed SBN 2504, also known as the “Salary Standardization Law VI,” which seeks to build upon the provisions of Republic Act No. 11466, the Salary Standardization Law 5 – a bill he co-sponsored and authored in 2019.

“Alam nyo kanina papasok po ako maraming nagpasalamat sa tulong, sa mga programa. Huwag ho kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Trabaho po naming iyan. Sa totoo lang po, ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan nyo po ako ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyong lahat,” expressed Go.

“Maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. Hinding-hindi ko sasayangin yung pagkakataong ibinigay ninyo sa akin. Magseserbisyo po ako sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Tulad ninyo, bisyo ko rin ang magserbisyo sa kapwa ko Pilipino,” he ended.

Earlier that day, Go attended the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys Office at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City as Guest Speaker, where he was honored again as an Outstanding Senator.