Senator and Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his support for the proposed 2022 budgets of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA).
Finance Subcommittee “C” scrutinized the 2022 budgets, accomplishments, and upcoming programs and projects of the agencies during a budget hearing presided over by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday (Sept. 15).
In his opening statement, Go recognized the decades of injustice and social inequity that the people of Mindanao have suffered and urged the government to continue its efforts to bring about much-needed reform and development in the region.
MinDA
He praised MinDA, under the leadership of Sec. Emmanuel Piñol, for its tireless work to assist those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and thanked the agency for its contributions to the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program.
“I particularly laud [MinDA] for its participation in the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program. MinDA has initiated the preparation of relocation sites in Mindanao, and assisted host [local government units] and concerned agencies in social mobilization,” Go said.
The program, which he proposed, provides residents of Metro Manila with the necessary forms of assistance so they can start anew in their home provinces. Roll-outs are temporarily suspended due to the pandemic and shall resume once conditions are deemed safe.
SPDA
Continuing his speech, Go also recognized the SPDA headed by Administrator Abdulghani Salapuddin which is primarily responsible for promoting the development of the Southern Philippines through various programs and projects.
“Matagal ko na rin pong narinig itong SPDA noon pa, mayor pa si Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte. Malaking tulong itong SPDA, lalong-lalo na diyan mismo sa Southern Philippines,” he added.
OPAPP
The senator commended OPAPP as led by the “very hardworking” Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. for its efforts to advance the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and implement the Normalization Program of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which aims to support communities affected by armed conflict.
“Importante sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte … ang kapayapaan dito sa Mindanao. Kami naman rito ay full support kami na sana po’y maipagpatuloy itong kapayapaan. Wala na pong patayan, sino ba namang gustong magpatayan kapwa Pilipino laban sa kapwa Pilipino. Masakit ‘yon,” Go said.
“We hope that the government’s efforts will be successful in achieving sustainable peace and development in Mindanao,” he added.
Vaccination efforts
As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go also thanked Galvez, who also serves as the chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 and vaccine czar, for leading the country’s procurement efforts and nationwide distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Alam naman natin na agawan ang bakuna sa ibang bansa. Bagama’t hindi pa kumpleto pero tuluy-tuloy ang dating. Kaya nagsusumikap talaga itong si Sec. Galvez, halos wala na itong tulog sa kanyang multi-tasking,” Go said.
“Napakalaking bagay ito, Sec. Galvez, ‘yung ginagawa mo para sa ating mga kababayan. Nandirito lang kami ni Pangulong Duterte, full support kami, nasa likod lang po. Importante, tuluy-tuloy ang ating pagbabakuna dahil tumataas ‘yung kaso ng COVID cases sa ngayon. Pero habang nandidiyan ang bakuna, medyo mas maiiwasan ‘yung pagka-severe cases,” he continued.
The senator urged Filipinos to support the government’s vaccination efforts as a critical tool in ending the pandemic. He expressed his hope that the country will achieve population protection leading to herd immunity at the soonest possible time.
“Wala naman tayong ibang susi sa ngayon … Nasa datos naman, ‘pag bakunado ka, mas maiiwasan ‘yung pagkamatay at pagka-severe cases. Kaya nakikiusap kami sa mga kababayan natin na magpabakuna na tayo habang paparating na itong mga bakuna at makamtan natin ‘yung population protection at sana po’y herd immunity … bago matapos ang taon or early next year,” he added. (SBG Office) – jlo
