MANILA -- Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Friday reiterated his commitment to continue "serving the President and the people" as a private citizen.
Go made this vow as he graced the 74th national assembly of the League of the Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP), where he said the needs of local constituents will be heard and addressed by the national government.
“Ako ay patuloy na magsisilbing tulay ninyo sa Pangulo. Andito ako para makinig at iparating ang inyong mga hinaing,” he said, reiterating the importance of strengthening the capabilities of local government units in responding to the needs of their constituents.
He thanked the members of the LVGP for their continued support to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, crimes, and corruption.
“Your roles in your respective jurisdictions are essential to the development of the country because you are part of the team responsible for implementing government programs and policies at the local level,” Go said.
“I hope that you use this time to have open discussions with each other to make sure that your respective visions are aligned, to ensure that our projects and programs complement each other, and to know whether we are all doing a good job in serving our communities," he added.
The former secretary, who is running for senator in 2019, also shared with the group his aspirations for the country, especially in areas where vice governors and other local government officials can help him.
Go said he would keep on helping the government establish more Malasakit Centers nationwide and push to institutionalize it into a law so that every province will have a center in their locality.
Currently existing in 17 cities, a Malasakit Center is a one stop shop situated in government hospitals where patients can avail of financial assistance from DOH, DSWD, Philhealth and PCSO.
He also plans to increase the benefits of barangay health workers and provide a mechanism to empower local leaders to engage in localized peace talks in areas where rebels operate.
“Dapat palakasin ang frontliners ng gobyerno para mas mapaganda at mapabilis ang serbisyo sa tao at maresolba ang mga problema sa lokalidad,” he said.
He ended the speech by calling for greater cooperation among national and local leaders.
“It is through working collectively and strengthening our partnership that we will be able to guarantee success in our endeavors," he said.
“The development plan of the country has been clearly defined and set out by this administration. With the right policies and cooperation from our LGUs, we can achieve our goals," he added.
On the same event, the League of Vice Governors passed a resolution adopting Bong Go as an honorary member for his service in voicing and addressing the needs of their respective LGUs. (PR)
