Go visits La Union, vows infrastructure projects for region

MANILA, Philippines — In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse socio-economic impacts on the country, Sen. Bong Go on Friday assured La Union residents of the Duterte administration’s commitment to continue ushering positive change and economic opportunities in the region through infrastructure projects and other public services.

Go visited the province for the launching of the Malasakit Center at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union.

“My vice is to serve people. I want to give a little help, give solution as I continue to be your bridge to President Duterte,” he said.

During an interview, Go noted some ongoing government projects in the province, including the Bauang-San Fernando Bypass Road that will cut travel from Bauang via Manila North Road from one hour to just 30 minutes, which seek to contribute to La Union’s development and improve the lives of Filipinos there.

The project, he added, will be completed by 2022.

Go also cited the rehabilitation of the Provincial Capitol, construction and improvement of the province’s Executive Building Phase 2, concreting of road in Barangay Camblay in Bagulin town and the construction of slope protection for the Burgos town public market.

The senator noted the legislative measures, including those that seek to increase the bed capacity and capabilities of various local hospitals, that he authored or sponsored and are now enacted into laws.

The other measures he cited are Republic Act 11466 which increases the salary of government employees; RA 11462 which provides for the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections; and RA 11463 which establishes Malasakit Centers in all Department of Health-run hospitals and in the Philippine General Hospital.

Go assured residents that he continues to push measures that would benefit the poor and vulnerable and those who need government attention the most.

Among his proposed measures is the establishment of the Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOOF) that aims to improve government efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of necessary services for those working abroad.

“Now that they are forced to come home because of the crisis, it is fitting to address their needs and help our modern-day heroes cope better,” Go stressed.

Filed in July last year, Senate Bill 202 seeks to create the DOOF to improve the delivery of government services to Filipinos abroad by bringing together and streamlining the relevant services scattered across various national agencies.

The second iteration of the initial SB 202, SB 1835 takes into consideration the inputs from the concerned executive agencies and has been endorsed by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office to the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.

“We will tackle the measure this Monday so we could have a department that focuses on the needs of our OFWs. Of course, the DDR (Department of Disaster Resilience) is also among my priorities so we could be better prepared for disasters like that which occurred in Cagayan province,” Go revealed.

Highlighting the frequency and adverse impact of natural and human induced disasters in the country, the senator is also pushing for the passage of SB 1228, otherwise known as the Mandatory Evacuation Center Act of 2019, which he filed last December 2019.

He also urged support for SB 205 which seeks to consolidate the essential functions of every disaster-related agency under the DDR.

Go assured Filipinos that he and Duterte will not get tired serving the country.