Photo courtesy: Senator Bong Go facebook page
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Public Works, emphasized the urgent need to prioritize rural development and the welfare of Filipino farmers, highlighting their essential role in securing the nation’s food supply.
Speaking via video call during a forum on Friday, April 25, with farmer leaders and agrarian reform beneficiaries in Iloilo City, Senator Go affirmed that the government must treat agriculture workers with dignity and recognize their labor as foundational to national stability and food security.
“‘Wag ko kayo magpasalamat sa akin. Ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo po ako ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo,” Senator Go began.
Drawing from his legislative efforts, Go underscored his continuing advocacy to improve rural infrastructure, particularly through the construction of more farm-to-market roads that directly benefit agricultural communities.
As he put it: “Ako po bilang member ng Public Works Committee sa Senado, dapat isulong ang farm-to-market road na makakatulong sa pinakamalayong lugar. Dapat unahin ang pinakamalayong lugar, ‘yung mga rural areas talaga na walang access sa daan.”
“Patuloy ko isusulong ‘yung farm-to-market roads na makakatulong sa malalayong lugar para mas magkaroon ng maayos na access sa agrikuktura. Asahan n’yo po ‘yan,” he added.
He went on to call for more direct and tangible assistance for farmers, emphasizing their day-to-day hardships and indispensable contribution to society: “Dapat ang ating mga farmers ang suportahan ng gobyerno. Ang mga farmers dapat tulungan sa mga ayuda. ’Kasi kayo po ang mga kababayan natin na ulan, init, nagtatrabaho po, isang kahig, isang tuka.”
“Asahan n’yo sa abot ng aking makakaya, mga farmers, ay nandirito lamang inyong Senator Kuya Bong Go na nakasuporta sa inyo. At marami tayong mga batas na isusulong rin pagdating ng panahon na makakatulong sa inyong sektor,” he added.
Building on this commitment, Senator Go has consistently advanced legislative measures aimed at uplifting the agriculture sector. Among his notable contributions is his role as a co-author of Republic Act No. 11901, or the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022. This law fortifies financial support systems for agriculture, giving farmers and fisherfolk improved access to resources they critically need.
Complementing this effort, Senator Go also co-sponsored and co-authored RA 11953, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act. This landmark legislation grants relief to agrarian reform beneficiaries by condoning loans, including accrued interest, penalties, and surcharges—effectively giving thousands of farmers a renewed path toward financial independence.
Senator Go’s legislative agenda continues to expand. He introduced Senate Bill No. 2117, which proposes comprehensive crop insurance for agrarian reform beneficiaries, and SBN 2118, which aims to broaden insurance services and protections for farmers—reinforcing the state’s obligation to secure their welfare in the face of natural and economic risks — if enacted.
Beyond agriculture, Senator Go also emphasized the critical need to enhance healthcare access, especially for underserved rural communities. He renewed his call for localized health infrastructure that responds to everyday medical needs.
“Ilapit natin ang mga serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayan. The more we should invest sa ating healthcare system,” he explained.
Among the most impactful of these are the Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers, and Regional Specialty Centers—all central to his vision of accessible and inclusive healthcare for all Filipinos.
These Malasakit Centers serve as one-stop shops designed to ease the financial burden of medical care for indigent patients. Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the program nationwide.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), more than 17 million Filipinos have already benefitted from the services offered by these centers.
In addition to the Malasakit program, Senator Go explained the role of Super Health Centers as local hubs that bring basic medical services closer to communities.
“Itong Super Health Centers. Isang paraan po ito na ilapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan. Dahil ang Super Health Centers, it’s a medium type of polyclinic. Pwede na po d’yan ‘yung panganak, dental, laboratory, x-ray. D’yan na po ‘yung Konsulta ng PhilHealth dahil lahat ng Pilipino, miyembro ng PhilHealth.”
Super Health Centers focus on primary care, consultation, and early detection—strengthening the nation’s healthcare system at the grassroots level. These services are implemented in coordination with municipal health offices, local government units (LGUs), and PhilHealth through its Konsulta program.
With the backing of Senator Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH under Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and LGUs, funding has been secured to construct more than 700 Super Health Centers across the country.
“Kung may Super Health Center kayo, hindi n’yo na kailangan pumunta ng hospital. D’yan na po kayo magpapacheck up. Mas importante po early detection para hindi lumala ang sakit. It will help decongest the hospitals kung may Super Health Centers sa mga malalayong lugar.”
He also pointed to another major legislative win: the institutionalization of Regional Specialty Centers that extend advanced care to the provinces.
“Maglalagay na po ng mga Specialty Centers sa mga selected DOH hospitals sa buong Pilipinas para pwede na pong magpa-opera sa puso, sa cancer care, neonatal, geriatric sa matatanda sa mga selected DOH hospitals sa buong Pilipinas.”
Senator Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. This law mandates the establishment of specialized medical centers within existing DOH regional hospitals, making advanced treatment more geographically accessible to patients outside Metro Manila.
Throughout the forum, Senator Go’s message was clear and consistent: those who feed the nation deserve nothing less than the full support of government—through better infrastructure, enhanced livelihood assistance, and equitable access to healthcare.
“Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” underscored Senator Go, who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.
