In a media interview after the briefing orientation for the newly-elected senators and their staff organized by the Senate Secretariat, Senator-elect Bong Go said he is looking forward to officially start his work in the Senate as a legislator.
“Excited po ako manungkulan bilang isang legislator. Sanay naman po ako sa trabaho for the past 21 years. Almusal, pananghalian, hapunan ko puro trabaho na. Minsan pati panaginip, trabaho pa rin. Kakaibang challenge naman sa buhay ko. But I will not limit myself to being a legislator only,” Go uttered.
The former presidential aide stressed that he will continue going around the country and visiting communities that are hard to reach, for him to listen to the ordinary Filipinos’ concerns even when he starts his work in the Senate.
“Hindi ko po matiis na nakaupo lang sa opisina. Gusto ko aksyon na ora mismo at mabigyan agad ng solusyon ang inyong hinaing. Bababa po ako sa inyo. Kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas ay papasukin ko po para marinig at mabigyan kayo ng tulong. Bukas ang aking opisina para sa lahat ng nangangailangan,” he said.
Moreover, Go shared that he is also planning to put a Malasakit Help Desk in his extension office to cater to all kinds of people who may be in need of assistance.
“I will put a Malasakit Help Desk in my extension office.”
“Plano ko po maglagay ng help desk po para sa lahat ng may mga concerns at nangangailangan ng tulong. Pati rin po yung gusto magbigay ng recommendations at mga gusto tumulong,” he uttered stressing that he will make sure his office will always be open to the people he serves.
“Huwag niyo ko tratuhin na iba po sa inyo. Pantay pantay lang po tayo. Nandito po ako para pagsilbihan kayo,” Go added.
He also said that he will continue to work with the President in his own personal capacity even when he starts his work in the Senate.
“Pareho po kami ng mga ipinaglalaban at wala kaming ibang hangarin kundi ang kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino. Hindi ko man siya makasama palagi bilang Senador na ako, sisikapin ko namang mas mapaganda ang ugnayan ng ehekutibo at lehislatibo para maging mas mabilis, maayos at maaasahan ang serbisyong naibibigay ng gobyerno sa tao,” Go said.
However, he vowed to prioritize his work as a Senator without having any conflict of interest with his commitment to serve the President, saying, “I will continue as his adviser. Pangako ko naman sa kanya, in my own personal capacity. Libre ‘yun. Ibig ko sabihin, magbibigay ako advice sa kanya, mag-assist ako sa kanya in my own personal capacity. I’ll make sure na wala pong magiging conflict of interest sa aking trabaho bilang isang senador at bilang adviser ni Pangulong Duterte. Pero syempre trabaho ko po ay senador for the next six years, priority ko po ito.”
Go also said that he will bring to the Senate the main concerns of the people by crafting bills that will truly benefit them. Examples of which, he said, is the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that would address the concerns of the OFWs, and the institutionalization of Malasakit Centers to cater to the needs of the poor who need medical attention, to name a few.
He will also push for measures to address the problems of informal settlers and to provide affordable houses for all, especially the poor and homeless.
Go believes that every family deserves a decent home stating, “Isa sa gusto kong isulong ang magkaroon ng long-term housing roadmap o plano upang matugunan ang 6.5-milyong kakulangan sa pabahay. Wala na dapat squatter sa sariling bayan.”
He also pledged to push for a newer version of the Salary Standardization Law that will further increase salaries of ordinary government personnel such as public school teachers and nurses.
“No one should be left behind. Dapat holistic approach, kasama rin ang iba pang ordinaryong manggagawa sa gobyerno. Alagaan natin ang mga kawani ng bayan,” Go said.
He has also vowed to intensify the government’s fight against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality. Together with fellow Senator-elect Bato Dela Rosa, he expressed his support for the reimposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes.
“Pag-aaralan namin ang posibleng pag-amyenda ng RA 9346 na kasalukuyang nagbabawal sa pagpapatupad ng death penalty. Titignan namin kung kailangang ibalik ang parusang kamatayan sa mga piling heinous crimes, such as those involving illegal drug trafficking and even corruption,” Go said.
“I support the reimposition of death penalty for heinous crimes.”
According to him, this proposal is consistent with this administration’s continuing fight to eradicate illegal drugs and corruption. Go added that for the interest of every law-abiding Filipino citizen, the revival of death penalty will be an effective deterrent against heinous crimes.
He stressed that he will speak up and initiate investigations in aid of legislation if he sees any form of corruption being done in government.
“Magsasalita ako at kung mayroong dapat imbestigahan, interes ng publiko ang kailangan unahin. Madalas niyo po akong maririnig dyan lalong-lalo na po basta itong involving corruption in the government. I will be more active, talagang babanatan namin ang korapsyon sa gobyerno, Go emphasized.
“Ako, kahit na kasamahan ko noon sa executive, kapag pumasok ka sa korapsyon wala po kaming sasantuhin. Ipinagbilin ni Pangulong Duterte ‘yan sa akin. Magsasalita po talaga ako kahit magkaibigan tayo noon, basta pumasok ka sa korapsyon, interes na ng tao ang pinag-uusapan,” he added.
Other priorities under Go’s legislative agenda include programs for health, agriculture, education, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, barangay welfare, and improved benefits for senior citizens.