Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and senatorial aspirant Willie Revillame spearheaded a motorcade across major public markets in Quezon City on Monday, 3 March, underscoring their shared advocacy for poverty alleviation and improved access to government services.
The event, which covered Payatas Market, Commonwealth Market, NEPA Q-Mart, and Balintawak Market, drew large crowds as Go emphasized the urgent need to prioritize programs benefiting marginalized communities.
“Isa lang po ang pakiusap ko, Sir Wil, matagal na tayong magkaibigan… unahin natin ‘yung mga mahihirap. ‘Yung mga pro-poor programs, kaya ‘yung mga programang isinusulong ko po, ‘yun lang po ang pakiusap ko sa inyo,” Go said.
He also raised concerns about food security, calling for increased government support for farmers to stabilize market prices.
“Unahin natin ang mga mahihirap. Pro-poor programs. Kung may pera po ang gobyerno, dapat po unahin, tulungan ang mga farmers. Dapat busog ang ating mga farmers. ‘Pag busog ang ating mga farmers, sila ay kumikita, mas bababa po ang presyo dito sa market. Tandaan n’yo po ‘yan,” he said.
The Senator and Revillame reiterated their focus on three core issues: healthcare, employment, and education.
Go highlighted his key legislative measures aimed at strengthening agricultural support, including Republic Act No. 11901, which enhances financial assistance for farmers and fisherfolk, and Republic Act No. 11953, which cancels debts of agrarian reform beneficiaries.
He has also filed Senate Bill No. 2117, which seeks to provide crop insurance protection, and Senate Bill No. 2118, which expands insurance coverage for farmers.
The motorcade took an unexpected turn when 70-year-old Margarita Palacios was injured amid the crowd surge along Commonwealth Avenue. The elderly woman lost her balance, fell, and hit her head.
Go immediately intervened, halting the event to ensure she received medical attention. He and Revillame personally escorted Palacios to East Avenue Medical Center, where she underwent a CT scan and received emergency treatment.
“Lagi nating inuuna ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya noong nalaman kong nasaktan si Lola Margarita, hindi natin siya pwedeng pabayaan,” Go said. “Importante na maayos muna ang kalagayan ni lola at masigurong matutulungan siya sa gastusin sa ospital.”
Palacios' medical expenses were covered by the Malasakit Center, a government initiative Go helped establish to assist indigent patients.
As the principal author of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, Go emphasized the program's impact, with 167 centers now operational across the country, aiding over 17 million Filipinos.
Several hospitals in Quezon City, including the Lung Center of the Philippines, East Avenue Medical Center, and Philippine Heart Center, house Malasakit Centers, ensuring medical assistance for low-income patients.
Go also pushed for the expansion of specialized healthcare through Republic Act No. 11959, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which mandates the establishment of specialty centers in DOH regional hospitals.
With campaign season heating up, Go maintained that his priority remains providing direct assistance to those in need, beyond political engagements.