Service, compassion overcome challenges

Through my years of public service, I am always reminded of a simple yet profound piece of advice that former President Rodrigo Duterte always tells me: “Just do what is right. Unahin mo ang kapwa mo Pilipino at hindi ka magkamamali diyan (Put your fellow Filipinos first, and you won't go wrong).”

This has been my anchor and guiding principle as a government worker, which continues to inspire me every single day to serve the people, especially the poor, the hopeless, and the helpless.

During typhoons, earthquakes, fires, and other calamities or crises, like the pandemic, I have always tried to personally attend to our affected kababayans as much as I can.

Nothing motivates me more than making Filipinos smile and uplifting their spirits even through the hardest of challenges. After all, service to the people is service to God himself.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Health, Sports, and Youth, I believe that true service goes beyond rhetoric. It is about seeing and experiencing firsthand what happens at the grassroots level, listening to people's concerns, and responding with genuine care and concrete actions. In the coming months, rest assured that your Senator Kuya Bong Go will be as focused as ever on bringing services closer to the people. Anuman ang mangyari, patuloy ang ating trabaho at serbisyo sa abot ng ating makakaya (No matter what happens, we will continue our work and service to the best of our ability)!

This year, we will be battling against a new set of challenges, particularly concerning the country’s healthcare system.

The new leadership of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth will be navigating the year with zero subsidies from the government. We will continue to push for the health benefit reforms that PhilHealth promised during our Senate Health Committee hearings. With billions of pesos in reserve funds, I am one with our people in demanding that PhilHealth properly utilize the people’s money to address the health concerns of the people. Ang pondo ng PhilHealth ay dapat gamitin sa health (PhilHealth funds should be used solely for healthcare)!

In the last six years, millions of Filipinos have benefited from flagship health programs that we have advocated and successfully supported: the Malasakit Centers program, the Super Health Center initiative, and the Regional Specialty Center law. We will continue to find ways to strengthen these initiatives to bring healthcare closer to Filipinos in need.

From serving with former President Duterte to becoming a senator, I have offered more than half of my life to public service. As a simple probinsyano, I am always grateful for the trust and opportunity given to me to serve our people. Rest assured that I will continue to do so in whatever capacity God and my fellow Filipinos may give me for the rest of my life.

Meanwhile, on 3 February, we attended the Liga ng mga Barangay Eastern Samar Chapter Provincial Congress upon the invitation of Governor Ben Evardone. We also supported various cooperatives in Region 4-A, in coordination with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) under its Malasakit sa Kooperatiba program we advocated for, during my visit to Dasmariñas City, Cavite.

On 4 February, we also launched the Malasakit sa Kooperatiba with CDA to support more cooperatives, this time in Metro Manila.

We were in Tondo, Manila to aid 350 recovering fire victims on 5 February who also received emergency housing assistance that we pushed for to help victims acquire materials to rebuild their homes. After this, we engaged and assisted 600 Tricycle Operators and Drivers' Association (TODA) members in Pasay City.

On 6 February, we were in San Fernando City, Pampanga to support cooperatives and launch the Malasakit sa Kooperatiba program in Central Luzon. We also gave additional assistance to 1,673 transport workers in Candaba, Pampanga who received financial support through our partnership with the local government.

On 7 February, we partnered with Ilocos Sur Governor Jerry Singson, Vice Governor Ryan Singson, Mayor Bonito Singson and other local government unit (LGU) leaders in providing educational assistance to 1,000 indigent students in Vigan City. Together with CDA, we also extended the Malasakit sa Kooperatiba program to aid 45 cooperatives from the Ilocos Region.

On 8 February, we personally gave additional assistance to help 253 fire victims in Muntinlupa City and 296 in Parañaque City on top of the emergency housing assistance we advocated for them to help rebuild their homes.

Yesterday, my team supported the Samahang Bisdak at the Parañaque City General Assembly at Parañaque Sports Complex with Councilor Raffy dela Peña. I showed my solidarity with my fellow Bisaya through a video call.

Meanwhile, my Malasakit Team also extended our efforts to other communities in need as they immediately aided 77 fire victims in Cebu City last week.

We also assisted 21 fire victims in Matalam, Makilala, Libungan, Midsayap, and Aleosan, all in North Cotabato; 51 in Opol, Misamis Oriental; 177 in Paco, Manila; 92 in Quezon City; 149 in Maco, Davao de Oro; 876 in Mandaue City, and 309 in Talisay City, both in Cebu; 32 in Tacloban City, Leyte; and 68 in Navotas City. These beneficiaries also received emergency housing assistance from the government to help them rebuild their homes.

A total of 250 impoverished residents in Lumban, Laguna were also assisted through our collaboration with the national and local government.

In support of the youth, we also advocated for scholarship and provided support to 90 students in Lipa City, Batangas; 206 in Camarines Norte; 146 in Albay; and 70 in Sorsogon.

Aside from temporary employment from the government, we also provided support to 390 displaced workers in Island Garden City of Samal with Councilor Sonny Lanorias and 98 in Tabaco City, Albay with Board Member Vic Ziga.

Despite the hurdles we will face, let us remember that our service and compassion for others will go a long way in uplifting the lives of our fellow Filipinos. As your Mr. Malasakit, bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos.