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— The Editors

War vs. illegal drugs, corruption to boost economy: Go

By Leslie Gatpolintan

March 12, 2019, 8:56 pm

MANILA -- Former Special Assistant to the President and senatorial aspirant Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Tuesday vowed to continue helping President Rodrigo Duterte’s fight against illegal drugs and corruption to boost economic growth.

“It is to continue the beneficial programs and reforms we have achieved so far --all of which have resulted to the gains we now enjoy --that I am running for a seat in the Senate,” he told businessmen during the general membership meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

“I do not seek power for my own nor that for my friends nor my family. What I want to do is to help the President achieve his legislative agenda and national development goals,” he said.

Go cited several measures in his platform, including helping sustain win the war against illegal drugs.

This is through strengthening the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) with a bigger budget, building more rehabilitation and reformation centers, and institutionalizing the Anti-Drug Abuse Councils in every level of government, he said.

As the President gave the war against criminality, drugs and corruption the much-needed focus, Go noted that crime incidence in the country is at an all-time low and crime resolution rates are at record highs.

“Our people can now confidently walk the streets, businesses both big and small need not fear of threats to their livelihood, and scalawags in positions of government are either immediately removed, replaced or brought to court,” he said.

Go further said he will also assist solve the problem of corruption by looking for improvements in the government procurement law, and legislating higher penalties for corruption-related crimes.

He also assured to help achieve food security by providing farmers and fisherfolk easy access to farm inputs, and ensure human resources are well equipped to handle the demands of the modern economy.

To improve people’s health, Go said he will continue establish Malasakit Centers in every province and chartered city in the country “so that quality and effective healthcare will be at reach by all of our citizens.”

“And lastly, I will establish Malasakit Assistance Centers that will address our people’s concerns in the sectors of transportation, education, agriculture, housing, the civil services and our professionals,” he added. (PNA)

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