Bong Go captivates CavitenosBong Go captivates Cavitenos

Posted by Daily Tribune on Tuesday, 8 January 2019

Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has assured Caviteños that their province will continue its development under the Duterte administration.

“Huwag kayong mag-alala dito sa Cavite. Tuloy ang pagbabago, tuloy-tuloy ang pag-unlad dito,” said in his message at the Ugnayan sa Barangay event held on Tuesday afternoon at the Capitol Hills Executive Subdivision Phase 1 Covered Court in Trece Martires City, Cavite.

“Malaki ang naitutulong ng mga Caviteño sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa. Kung kaya’t ginagawa ng pangulo ang lahat ng makakakaya niya para mas mapalago pa ang probinsiya ninyo,” he said.

Go acknowledged that Cavite is an important contributor to the country’s economic growth given its location and business-friendly environment.

The Duterte government through its infrastructure program called Build Build Build has earmarked several important projects that would spur even more growth and development in the province and its people, according to Go.

Among others, right-of-way acquisition-related activities are ongoing for the P35.43 billion project consisting of a 44.63-km closed system Cavite-Laguna Expressway connecting the CAVITEX in Kawit, Cavite and SLEX in Binan, Laguna.

Also ongoing are preconstruction activities for the P64.9 billion LRT Line 1 Cavite extension, starting from the Baclaran station to the future station at Niyog in Bacoor, Cavite.

Likewise, Go announced that a Malasakit Center will soon open in Cavite. Similar to what happened on Tuesday morning at the Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery, Batangas, the government plans to launch a Malasakit Center in Cavite to cater to the need for financial and medical assistance of poor and disadvantaged residents of the province.

“Mahalaga ang kalusugan ng mamamayan para mas makatulong sa paglago ng pamumuhay ng pamilya kaya kailangan natin tugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga may sakit,” Go told the audience.

The Malasakit Center, a brainchild of Go and President Rodrigo Duterte, is a one-stop shop where PCSO, DSWD, PhilHealth, and other relevant government satellite offices are housed together in a public hospital to ease the process for patients in need of speedy medical and financial assistance.

Currently, there are 20 Malasakit Centers operating in various parts of the Philippines. Go intends to add to this number through a law that would mandate the creation of Malasakit Centers in all provinces and urban centers of the country.

Related to the Malasakit Center, Go stressed as well the need to increase available hospital beds for patients in crowded public hospitals.

“Huwag natin pahirapan ang mga may sakit na pasyente; bigyan natin silang may sakit ng tamang higaan para gumaling sila nang maayos,” he said.

Meanwhile, Go emphasized the need to protect the welfare of barangay officials as well as brgy health workers by providing proper compensation and benefits packages and by pushing for a Magna Carta for Barangays.

Go is also supporting the move to extend the current term of elected barangay officials so that they can have more time to cater to the needs of their constituents. The term of current brgy officials has been cut short to two years due to the postponement of the last brgy election.

“Sila po ang frontliners natin sa pagharap sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga barangay. Pagdating sa droga o sa kalusugan, sila ang ating maaasahaan kaya kailangan natin silang bigyan ng pagpapahalaga,” Go said.

Go ended his Cavite visit with these words:

“Wala kaming ibang hangarin kung hindi kabutihan ng bawat isa sa inyo dahil mahal na mahal namin kayo mga kapatid naming Pilipino. Ako po ang inyong patuloy na magiging tulay kay Pangulong Duterte. Wala akong ibang bisyo kung di magserbisyo sa inyo,” Go assured the audience.

Go was warmly welcomed by the entourage of Cavite Governor and congressional candidate Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, former Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla, Cavite Board Member and PBMLP National Board Ryan Enriquez, Trece Martires mayoral candidate Mrs. Gemma Lubigan, as well as other local leaders of the area.