Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, June 21, has urged the incoming administration to continue the government’s commitment to foster regional development through the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program, saying it will provide more Filipinos with hope for a better future following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ako naman po ay hinihikayat ko po ang susunod na administrasyon na ipagpatuloy po ‘yung Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program po based on Executive Order po ito ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte,” said Go in an interview after personally providing assistance to his fellow Davaoeños in Lupon, Davao Oriental.

“Sana po’y mas mapaganda pa dahil alam niyo marami pong mga kababayan natin na talagang nadala (sa nangyari nitong pandemya lalo na sa Maynila),” he added.

Go stressed that the initiative can benefit those who have been adversely impacted by the pandemic by assisting them to start anew in their provinces. He went on to say that the program can assist in decongesting Metro Manila, ultimately easing many of the metropolis’ long-standing problems.

“Noong panahon na nasa Maynila sila, nabigla sila dahil sa pandemya. ‘Yung mga walang kamag-anak po doon, nasa bangketa na lang po, nasa gutter diyan po natutulog, naghihintay paano makauwi sa kanilang mga probinsya, wala pong kamag-anak. So marami talagang nahirapan noong pandemya at nabigla,” noted Go.

“So with the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program, bibigyan po sila ng pagkakataon, ‘yung sino lang po gustong bumalik ng probinsya. And of course, ma-decongest po natin ang Maynila,” he added.

In May 2020, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 114 which institutionalizes the program as a “pillar of balanced regional development”. It instructs concerned agencies to prepare and implement the BP2 Program.

“Ngayon, merong Executive Order 114 na nag-institutionalize nito. Meron ding inter-agency council na mangangasiwa at magpapatupad nito. Whole-of-government na ang approach ngayon,” Go explained.

The EO came after Go authored Senate Resolution No. 380 which was adopted by the Senate during its plenary session on May 4, urging the Executive Department to formulate and implement the BP2 program.

According to the EO, the BP2 Program will bring “balanced regional development and equitable distribution of wealth, resources, and opportunities through policies and programs that boost countryside development and inclusive growth.”

The program will also provide adequate social services to its people, promote employment, and focus on key areas, such as empowerment of local industries, food security, and infrastructure development in rural areas.

Finally, provinces, according to Go, are less crowded than Metro Manila and hence offer more opportunities to Filipinos, giving them hope for a better future.

“Dito sa atin sa probinsya, maluwang pa, madami pang lupa, ang dami pang oportunidad. At the same time, matutulungan po natin ‘yung mga countryside na umunlad naman po ang kanilang bayan,” said Go.

“This is to encourage the investors na pumunta po sa mga probinsya. At the same time, giving hope for our fellow Filipinos,” he added.