Senator Christopher “Bong” Go made a visit to Ormoc City in Leyte on Friday, June 16, where he joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly constructed pentathlon facility with a dedicated fencing hall, among others.
The project was initiated by the local government of Ormoc City through the leadership of Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, in partnership with Go as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports and Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.
During his inspection, Go emphasized his unwavering support for sports and youth development, especially at the grassroots.
“Ako po’y isang sports enthusiast. Isa sa aking pangunahing adbokasiya ay sports dahil mahalagang paraan ito para magabayan ang kabataan at ilayo sila sa iligal na droga. Kaya ako, full support ako sa inyo,” said Go.
“Masaya ako na mayroong inisyatibo na katulad nito na sinimulan ng ating Kongresista at Mayor noon at nakapagpatayo kayo dito ng ganitong pasilidad. Hindi talaga ako nagdalawang-isip na maging instrumento na makatulong sa inyo dahil gusto ko ang Pilipino ay mag-excel pa sa sports, lalo na mga galing sa probinsya,” he added.
Go’s commitment to sports and youth development extends beyond the establishment of physical infrastructure. In his speech, the senator also took the opportunity to discuss a notable initiative he championed—the establishment of the National Academy of Sports in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
“Ngayon, isi-share ko lang sa inyo. Hindi lang po mga ganitong programa ang isinusulong ko bilang chairman ng Committee on Sports. Mayroon din po akong naisulong noon, congresswoman pa si Ma’am Lucy, ‘yung National Academy of Sports, kung saan pwedeng mag-aral ang estudyante at the same time mag-training,” shared Go.
“Nandiriyan sa Clark, itinayo ang gusali. Basta kami kung ano ‘yung makakatulong sa mga kabataan. Kaya tandaan n’yo ha, nandirito ang inyong Kuya Bong Go na laging full support po sa ating mga atleta,” he added.
Go authored and co-sponsored a bill in the Senate that became Republic Act No. 11470 in 2020. The law provided for the establishment of the NAS System and Main Campus.
He likewise continues to push for SBN 423 or the proposed Philippine National Games Act which seeks to provide a platform for athletes across the nation, particularly young individuals, to showcase their skills and compete at the national level.
The proposed measure aims to ensure a more inclusive system of promoting promising Filipino athletes who possess potential in various fields of sports to be given an equal opportunity of becoming future contenders in international sporting competitions and cement the country’s status as a “Sports Powerhouse in Asia”.
Meanwhile, during his visit, Go also personally spearheaded a distribution activity for 1,065 impoverished residents in Ormoc City consisting of tricycle drivers, persons with disabilities, solo parents, vendors, and fire victims.
In his message, Go expressed his gratitude to the local residents for their support and declared his commitment to working for the Filipino people.
“Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. Hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung oras na ibinigay ninyo sa akin. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino,” said Go.
Held at Barangay Libertad covered court, Go and his team provided grocery packs, vitamins, masks, snacks, and shirts to the beneficiaries. The team also gave away shoes, phones, umbrellas, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance.
Additionally, Go extended his support to individuals facing health issues and urged them to avail themselves of the services provided at any of the 158 Malasakit Centers scattered across the country, including five that have been set up in the province, with one located at the Ormoc District Hospital which he visited also that day and provided aid to patients and frontliners there.
The Malasakit Center brings all relevant agencies under one roof, such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to ensure that particularly poor and indigent patients can conveniently access medical assistance programs to cover their hospital bills.
Other Malasakit Centers are located at the Immaculate Concepcion Hospital (ICH) in Baybay City, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City, as well as at the Leyte Provincial Hospital and the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center (GBTRGHSC) in Palo.
To further improve the health services in the province, Go also sponsored and successfully pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 11567, increasing the bed capacity of EVRMC. Furthermore, he was instrumental in the enactment of RA 11566, converting the Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital into the GBTRGHSC.
Go supported other projects in the province, including the construction of multipurpose buildings in Alangalang, Babatngon, Carigara, Dagami, Isabel, Jaro, La Paz, Leyte and Tolosa; construction of the Merida Community Hospital; construction of flood control structures in Alangalang, Javier, Tanauan and Tolosa; and acquisition of dump trucks for the local governments of Isabel and Villaba, among others.
On the same day, Go also attended the 16th Charter Day celebration of Baybay City. He was officially declared as the adopted son of Leyte through Resolution No. 2020-337 passed on April 24, 2020 and formally granted on June 16. The resolution recognizes Go’s deep friendship, unwavering support, and invaluable contributions to the province and its people.
In addition to attending the festivities, he extended assistance to local residents and conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center situated at the ICH and also inspected a boardwalk in Baybay City that he supported during the Duterte administration.
