Senator Christopher “Bong” Go thanked the private sector for its continuing cooperation with and support of the Duterte Administration’s efforts to attain sustainable development and inclusive growth in the country during the 2nd General Members Meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Mindanao.

The online event, held on Saturday, March 26, was organized to celebrate the installation of the new regional governors for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Western Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Southwestern Mindanao, Southeastern Mindanao, Eastern Mindanao and Western Mindanao.

In a speech, Go hailed the rapid progress of Mindanao region under the current administration. He reaffirmed President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to further boost the region’s economic recovery in light of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the past few years, our home island of Mindanao experienced positive and meaningful developments in terms of infrastructure development, private investments as well as peace and security. Talagang sinugal ng Pangulo ang lahat para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak,” said Go.

“Tinupad niya ang kanyang pangako at nagresulta ito sa magandang business climate, if not for this pandemic. Buti na lang mayroon tayong isang leader na decisive at may political will. So far, so good ang ating COVID response at gagawin namin ang lahat para makabalik na tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” he reassured.

The lawmaker pledged to support measures that will accelerate the recovery process while creating new opportunities for local businesses. He recently pushed for the passage of a bill that will establish the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority with the aim of transforming Davao into one of the prime centers for business and investment.

Filed by Go in 2021, Senate Bill No. 2157 seeks to centralize and oversee the development efforts and initiatives that deal with the challenges faced by Davao City and its neighboring local government units. The consolidated version was approved last January and is set to be signed by the President.

Moreover, Go also vowed to push for more measures that will enhance the region’s ability to respond to future health crises in his capacity as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health. He primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act, which provides convenient access to quality and affordable healthcare to all Filipinos.

The center is a one-stop shop which brings together the agencies that offer medical assistance, namely, the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. There are currently 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide, 37 of which are located at various public hospitals in Mindanao.

“Hanggang Jolo mayroon ng Malasakit Center para hindi na mahirapan ang ating mga kababayan. Sabi ko, bakit natin pahirapan ang mga Pilipino humingi ng tulong kung pera naman nila ‘yan. Dapat ibalik natin ito sa kanila sa mabilis na serbisyo,” remarked Go.

“Rest assured na ipaglalaban ko ang mga batas na ang makikinabang ay ‘yung mga mahihirap, ‘yung mga helpless, hopeless at walang matakbuhan,” he stressed.

The senator was also instrumental in the enactment of 24 local hospital laws in 2021, which included measures to upgrade the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City and Siargao District Hospital in Dapa, Surigao del Norte; Malita Women’s and Children’s Wellness Center in Davao Occidental; Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental; and Misamis Oriental General Hospital in Medina, as well as establishing the Davao Occidental General Hospital in Malita.

He recently sponsored 15 new measures which include bills to upgrade the Cotabato Sanitarium in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; Sulu Sanitarium in Jolo, Sulu; and Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City; and another to establish the Northeastern Misamis General Hospital in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. All bills are awaiting the President’s signature.

To ensure the long-term development of the region, however, Go highlighted the need to continue investing in programs like Universal Health Care, free education, free irrigation and the Administration’s flagship ‘Build, Build, Build’ (BBB) program.

Among the big-ticket projects of the BBB program are the ‘Bridge of Peace and Unity’ which will reduce the travel time from Tubod, Lanao del Norte to Tangub City, Misamis Occidental from two hours to seven minutes, and the Mindanao Railway System which will connect major cities in the island.

He also stressed the importance of several of the Administration’s legislative initiatives, such as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, which ensures the survivability and sustainability of Filipino businesses even amid the pandemic.

Other major initiatives include the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program, a long-term plan of the government to decongest Metro Manila and boost the development of the countryside. The program offers a tailored assistance package for each beneficiary household that includes livelihood or housing support.

Finally, the senator underlined the significance of the government’s peace-building efforts, chief of which is the creation of BARMM following the approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2019 and the extension of the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

“Para mabigyan sila ng pagkakataon na mag-adjust dahil inabutan sila ng pandemic ay pinayagan ni Pangulong Duterte nai-extended sila hanggang 2025. Sana maging maganda ang result nito at sa ating hinahangad na long and lasting peace in Mindanao,” appealed Go.

“All these achievements have been accomplished not only through the decisive leadership of President Duterte and his administration, but also to the cooperation and participation of various sectors of society, including PCCI Mindanao … Kung hindi dahil sa inyong suporta ay mahihirapan din ang ating administrasyon sa ating pag-angat at muling pagbabalik sa normal natin na pamumuhay,” he continued.

In the end, the lawmaker called on the new regional governors to encourage increased investment and support development projects that will bring tangible benefits and improve the standard of living of the region’s more than 26 million residents.

He also urged their continued support for COVID-19 response efforts especially in promoting the national vaccination campaign.

“Magtulungan tayo para masigurong walang maiiiwan sa ating pag-ahon mula sa pandemyang ito at iba pang krisis na ating hinaharap,” Go reiterated.