Bong Go vows to continue serving the President, public

“Patuloy ang aking serbisyo sa tao (My public service continues).”

Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go stated this at the 74th national assembly of the League of the Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) on November 30, 2018.

Go, the event’s guest of honor and speaker, reiterated his commitment to serve President Duterte and the public even as a private citizen. He said he will make sure that the needs of local constituents are heard and addressed by the national government.

“Ako ay patuloy na magsisilbing tulay ninyo sa Pangulo. Andito ako para makinig at iparating ang inyong mga hinaing (I will continue to serve as a bridge between the President and the public. I’m here to listen to your concerns),” he said, reiterating the importance of strengthening the capabilities of local government units (LGUs) in responding to the needs of their constituents.

He thanked the members of the LVGP for their continued support to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, crimes, and corruption.

“Your roles in your respective jurisdictions are essential to the development of the country because you are part of the team responsible for implementing government programs and policies at the local level,” Go said.

He also emphasized the importance of the event. “I hope that you use this time to have open discussions with each other to make sure that your respective visions are aligned, to ensure that our projects and programs complement each other, and to know whether we are all doing a good job in serving our communities.”

The former secretary, who is running for senator in 2019, also shared with the group his aspirations for the country, especially in areas where vice governors and other local government officials can help him.

Go said he would keep on helping the government establish more Malasakit Centers nationwide and push to institutionalize it into a law so that every province will have a center in their locality. Currently existing in 17 cities, a Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop situated in government hospitals where patients can avail themselves of financial assistance from the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).