Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has called on the Filipino people to support and help each other for the country’s full recovery and sustainable future.

Go started filing resolutions this month on pressing matters that need immediate attention and action.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go filed a resolution to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the preparedness of the country to contain and suppress monkeypox.

On 29 July, the Philippines confirmed its first detected case of monkeypox.

“We are still reeling from the many adverse impacts of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We cannot let yet another infectious disease overburden our healthcare system and derail the gains we have achieved toward recovery,” he said.

Together with Senator Robinhood Padilla, Go filed Senate Resolution 84 last Monday, maintaining that it is the duty of Congress to formulate institutional policies and measures to address public health emergencies.

That same day, Go and Padilla filed Senate Resolution 86 to urge the Executive Department to immediately support the restoration of cultural heritage sites and national landmarks damaged by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Luzon last 27 July.

“The two of us had earlier inspected some of the quake-hit areas and personally assisted over a thousand earthquake victims in Bangued and Lagangilang, Abra and Vigan City, Ilocos Sur,” he said.

Also on Monday, Go filed Senate Resolution 83, urging the Committee on Sports to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the ways to support the Philippine men’s basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas.

“In the process, we aim to review the relevant laws and policies to ensure optimal performance in future international sports competitions and to protect the welfare of Filipino athletes,” he said.

The resolution was also introduced by senators Mark Villar, Francis Tolentino, Alan Peter Cayetano and Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva.

Several bills that Go had authored or co-authored have been recently enacted into law.

These include Republic Act (RA) 11927 or the “Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act,” which guarantees that the Filipino workforce benefits from the job prospects created by digital technologies.

He’s also one of the authors of the measure that became RA 11901 that expands the agriculture, fisheries, and rural development financing system.

“Our farmers and fisherfolk play a crucial role in ensuring food security in our country so it is imperative for us to continue strengthening agricultural support systems and infrastructure,” he said.

Go said indigent senior citizens will also now receive increased monthly pension allowance from P500 to P1,000 through RA 11916 which he co-authored.

His team continued to provide support to struggling Filipinos nationwide in the past week.

“We distributed aid to fire victims in Cebu province, including 31 families in Mandaue City, eight in Compostela; three in Cordova; and 12 individuals in Cebu City; and 27 families in Tayuman, Manila City,” Go reported.

Assistance was also delivered to 2,500 struggling residents in San Fernando City and 1,000 in Candaba, Pampanga; 1,000 in San Manuel, and 1,000 in Pura, Tarlac; 1,000 in Maragondon, Cavite; 306 in Lupao, Nueva Ecija; and 2,543 in Cortes and in Buenavista, Bohol.

Go also visited and checked on the situation of pandemic-affected communities in Davao City.

“I spearheaded the relief efforts at the respective gymnasiums of Barangays Kapitan Tomas Monteverde, Agdao Proper, and PacianoBangoy, where 1,500 struggling residents received relief items, such as grocery packs, shirts, vitamins, masks and meals,” he said.