TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite – Former Special Assistant to the President and now senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ T. Go said he will include among his priority programs the enactment of a law to establish ‘Malasakit’ centers across the country to improve the country’s health and medical services if he wins a Senate seat.
The ‘Malasakit Center’ — a ‘one-stop shop’ program and done in partnership with Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Philippine Amusement and Games Corp. (PAGCOR), Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) and Philippine Health Insurance Corp (Philhealth) — is an effective and convenient means to help patients in need of assistance, Go said.
“Pag nagkakasakit mga tao, hindi nila alam san sila lalapit (if people get sick, they don’t know who to approach) Go said as he explains that this one-stop shop concept is to group the partnering agencies into one office, “na magtutulungan po para maging zero balance ang bill, so palalakasin pa natin ito, palalawakin (who will help each other for a zero bill, so we will strengthen this, widen its coverage),” Go added.
He also vowed to support the President’s legislative agenda, “dahil alam ko na ang lahat ng ito ay (because I know that all of these are) for the sake of the majority of Filipino people”.
He will likewise look into the country’s juvenile justice law as the law now does not support the country’s campaign against illegal drugs, “dahil ang mga bata ay ginagamit as courier ng sindikato (because the youngs are being used as couriers by syndicates),” Go said.
Go, who is now a private citizen, spoke before members of the media after his speech during the second day of the three-day Mid-Term Convention of Philippine Judges Association (PJA) held at the International Convention Center here on Thursday.
Although he has left his former post as Special Assistant to the President, he vowed to continue “as a special assistant to the people this time”.
Considered as the President’s most trusted aide, Go promised to continue to act as ‘bridge’ to the President on people’s concerns, in his personal capacity.
Go added that the President, as chief executive and as someone whose request is honored by the members of the Congress and the judiciary, will closely monitor, fast-track or approve the group’s proposed bills.
These pending bills include the establishment of survivorship benefits for solo or single judges; creation of office for ‘judges at large’ to help decongest court dockets; creation of Philippine Marshall for the security of judges and their staff; and the hazard pay of regional trial court (RTC) judges.
PJA President Felix P. Reyes, Presiding Judge of RTC Brancj 22 (Marikina City), cited the killings of 30 RTC judges in the past 10 years as the reason why they are pushing for the establishment of the Philippine Marshall and the additional hazard pay.
The marshall is “for the security of our judges, especially those with death threats or handling controversial cases.
The hazard pay will be considered as their savings which they can leave for their loved ones if the inevitable happens. (Gladys Pino/PNA)
