Press Release - 'Lapitan ng mga mahihirap, pareho ang trabaho natin' -- Bong Go aligns with PAO's efforts in providing legal assistance for the poor; receives Outstanding Senator award

With his compassionate and unwavering service to the Filipinos, member of the Senate Committee on Justice Senator Christopher "Bong" Go was honored once more and dubbed Outstanding Senator at the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys Office on Tuesday, August 13, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

"Sa lahat ng mga kawani ng Public Attorney's Office, maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong serbisyo dahil kayo ang takbuhan ng ating mga mahihirap na mga kapwa Pilipino," said Go in his speech.

"Isa sa mga opisinang nakalinya po sa aking advocacy ay ang Public Attorney's Office. Alam nyo kung bakit? Kasi naniniwala ako na kayo po ang lapitan ng mga mahihirap. Tulad ng aking opisina, kayo po yung opisinang pwedeng lapitan ng mga helpless at hopeless," he added.

Underscoring his advocacies for the indigent Filipinos, Go, Chairperson of Senate Committees on Health, on Sports, and on Youth, also mentioned his pro-poor programs which aim to elevate the lives of his fellow kababayans and bring public services closer to the people especially the poor.

"Tatlo po ang aking naging prayoridad bilang chairman ng Committee on Health. First, Malasakit Centers. Second, Super Health Centers. Third, Regional Specialty Centers," shared Go.

Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 after witnessing the struggles of financially disadvantaged Filipinos in settling their medical expenses. The program, institutionalized in 2019 under Republic Act No. 11463, was principally authored and sponsored by Go. Since its inception, the program has established 166 Malasakit Centers across the country, with the Department of Health reporting that approximately ten million Filipinos have benefitted from these centers.

He also advocated for the establishment of more Super Health Centers nationwide. With the collective efforts of Go, his fellow lawmakers, the DOH led by Secretary Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa, and local government units, over 700 Super Health Centers have been funded across the country to bring primary care, medical consultations and early disease detection closer to communities.

Senator Go further