Senator Christopher "Bong" Go highlighted on Tuesday, 12 September the timely and rapidly growing potential of e-sports not only in the Philippines but also globally.

Go expressed his support during a budget hearing for the Games and Amusements Board which he presided over as vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

With a proposed budget of P131 million for 2024, GAB, which is responsible for regulating and supervising professional sports, has also been keenly observing the rise of e-sports and its increasing importance in the professional sports landscape.

"As to the Games and Amusements Board, I also want to know the developments in professional sports particularly the emergence of e-sports," he said.

The senator emphasized the role of e-sports in his broader campaign against illegal drugs. "Isa rin po ito sa paraan upang mailayo natin ang kabataan sa illegal na droga (This is one way of keeping the youth away from drugs)," Go added.

By promoting e-sports as an alternative to harmful activities, Go aims to engage the youth in a constructive and potentially lucrative field, contributing to their overall well-being.

Go also mentioned that e-sports competitions are not just confined to metropolitan areas but have reached even far-flung provinces like Zamboanga Sibugay where he was invited to grace an e-sports activity there early this year.

In February, Go attended the 22nd Araw ng Sibugay and Sibug-Sibug Festival in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. The event featured the province's inaugural and largest in-person Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Tournament.

The senator expressed his enthusiasm for the event, highlighting its role in uplifting the community, especially the youth, by offering them a platform to display their talents, particularly in e-sports.

During the hearing, Go also asked GAB chairman Richard Santos Clarin about the use of their confidential funds and their efforts to fight illegal gambling and game fixing in professional games.

Go asked Clarin where they use their confidential funds and if they use it for their illegal gambling campaign. Clarin replied that they have a four million peso budget for confidential funds, which they use to combat illegal gambling.

Go and fellow senators such as Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also asked GAB if they are still hearing reports of game fixing in professional games and if they are able to counter it.

Clarin said that they hope to do so, and that they are very aggressive in coordinating with the professional leagues, such as the Philippine Basketball Association and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, under the direction of commissioners Willie Marcial and Kenneth Duremdes, respectively.