Bong Go pushes construction of more classrooms, commends VP Duterte’s decision to forego confidential funds

Senator Bong Go, during the Senate plenary deliberation for the Department of Education's 2024 budget on Thursday, 9 November 9, emphasized the urgent need to prioritize the construction and renovation of classrooms across the country, particularly in remote communities.

"Unahin ang pagpapatayo at pagsasaayos ng classrooms," Go stressed, advocating for immediate action to address the scarcity and poor condition of educational spaces.

Go said that his firsthand observations revealed significant deficiencies in educational infrastructure, from dilapidated buildings to inadequate facilities.

He also highlighted the plight of teachers grappling with these challenges, underscoring their appeals for assistance.

In his speech, Go also expressed admiration for Vice President Sara Duterte's decision to forego confidential funds, redirecting focus to more pressing educational needs.

Go, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Basic Education and vice chairperson of the Committee on Finance, reaffirmed his support for Duterte as Vice President and DepEd Secretary.

His stance in the Senate, though a single vote, is firm on the reallocation of available resources towards educational advancements, especially in tackling the backlog of classroom shortages.

"Iisang boto lang naman ako sa Senado, pero ang posisyon ko ay kung anuman ang tinanggal na budget sa DepEd, dapat itong ibalik sa pamamagitan ng mga programa na makakabenepisyo sa mga kababayan natin lalung-lalo na po sa pagtugon sa backlog natin sa classrooms," he declared.

"Bilang kasapi po ng Senate Committee on Basic Education at Vice Chair po ng Committee on Finance, nananatili po ang aking tiwala sa ating Bise Presidente at sa ating Secretary po ng DepEd," concluded Go.