Senator Bong Go reiterated his strong commitment to strengthening the country’s education system stressing that investing in education is crucial to securing a better future for every Filipino.
“Naniniwala po ako na ang edukasyon ay puhunan ng mga kabataan, ng mga estudyante. Dala dala nila ‘yan hanggang sa pagtanda,” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth, emphasized.
“Hindi po ayuda. Yung ayuda po one time lang ‘yon, bukas baka wala na ‘yon. Pero ito pong edukasyon dala dala nila ‘yan,” the legislator added.
While widely known for his health reforms crusade, the lawmaker revealed that one of his legislative priorities in his next term will be to push for more education programs that are accessible and inclusive.
The senator pointed to the successful implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act No. 10931), which was signed into law under the administration of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
He also shared that the free tertiary education law almost got vetoed at the time when he was still Special Assistant to the President, but through the collective support of various advocates including himself who helped defend the measure, it eventually became a law. Now, as legislator, Go aims to expand its reach further.
“During the term of former President (Rodrigo) Duterte, diyan po nag-umpisa ‘yung Free Tertiary Education Act na muntik na pong na-veto. Ayaw ng mga finance manager ng mga gastos. Pero ako mismo, isinulong natin ‘yan,” Go highlighted.
“Ang edukasyon po ang puhunan natin sa mundong ito at dala-dala natin yan hanggang sa pagtanda.”
“Sabi ko, huwag hindi dapat ma-veto yan dahil kailangan ng mga kababayan natin. Iyan po ang plano ko pagdating ng panahon na i-expand po. The more we should invest sa ating education dahil para sa akin ang edukasyon po ang puhunan natin sa mundong ito at dala-dala natin yan hanggang sa pagtanda,” he further emphasized.
Building on this milestone, Go is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1360 as one of its authors and co-sponsors, which seeks to expand the coverage of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).
In addition to making tertiary education more accessible, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography is also advocating for the strengthening of mental health services within state universities and colleges (SUCs).
He is pushing for the establishment of dedicated Mental Health Offices in SUCs, which will be responsible for awareness campaigns, training programs, and hiring of additional mental health professionals to support students’ psychological well-being better.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports likewise underscored the importance of developing young Filipino athletes through quality education. As one of the authors and co-sponsors of RA 11470, he helped establish the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. NAS offers a dual-track curriculum that integrates academics with high-level sports training, helping talented youth achieve their dreams both in the classroom and in the field.
“Marami tayong mga potential na Olympians.”
“Marami tayong mga potential na Olympians. We can produce more gold po. Iyan po’y bagay na dapat paghandaan pa ng Pilipino. At isang paraan po yan na ilayo natin ang mga kabataan sa iligal na droga,” Go said.
With his strong legislative track record and continued push for pro-poor programs, he again affirms that true public service means creating long-term, sustainable opportunities–especially for the next generation of Filipinos.
