`Let’s start working:’ Bong Go to focus on healthcare, among others
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who emerged as the top candidate in the 2025 senatorial race based on partial and unofficial results, said he will prioritize healthcare access including reforms in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), education, food security, and job creation, among others, in his second term.
“I will continue to serve you. Hard work, compassion at more service are what I will give you in the next years. And I will prioritize programs to help our poor countrymen,” Sen. Go, speaking in Filipino, said in an interview.
“We will improve access to government service, especially medical service for those who are in need,” he added.
Public health
Go identified public health as his foremost advocacy: “First and foremost, health. That has been my advocacy ever since. I will bring that closer to the people.”
He emphasized the continued expansion of health-related services initiated under his watch: “Of course, Malasakit Center, that’s a law that we passed. Regional Specialty Centers, Super Health Centers — few of the ways to bring medical services because health is wealth.”
Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops aiming to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.
As of now, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The Department of Health (DOH) reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 17 million Filipinos.
READ: Bong Go on senatorial race win: ‘God is fair’
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide to bring primary care, medical consultations, and early disease detection closer to the grassroots.
He also principally sponsored and is one of the authors of Republic Act No. 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
He also renewed his push for stronger oversight of PhilHealth especially in the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law, expressing frustration over inefficiencies and underutilization of their existing funds.
“I will focus on Philhealth for the Filipinos. Philhealth is for health. Not business. Its funds should be spent for the people, let’s bring the money back to people. Poor citizens should have something to fall back on in times of sickness.”
Beyond healthcare
Beyond healthcare, Go said he would push for expanded access to education, citing the enactment of the Free Tertiary Education Law during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. “We pushed for this. It was almost vetoed. But we kept on pushing. We want to expand this and give choices to the people,” he added.
The senator has authored and co-sponsored bills that aim to improve access to education including Senate Bill No. 1360 which seeks to expand the coverage of the tertiary education subsidy by amending Republic Act No. 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which was enacted during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Bong Go maintains lead in survey, a week before the May 12 polls
Senator Go also vowed to continue supporting sports development, linking it directly to youth welfare and anti-drug efforts: “Sports is one of the ways to dissuade our youth from illegal drugs. Get into sports, stay away from drugs and keep healthy and fit.”
He cited milestones under his tenure as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports: “Now we achieved our first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo Olympics. We won two more golds in Paris Olympics. I would like to see an expanded National Academy of Sports.”
Senator Go has long championed the welfare of Filipino athletes through a comprehensive, inclusive, and grassroots-oriented approach to sports development.
At the heart of this advocacy is the establishment of the NAS, which Senator Go is one of the authors and co-sponsors through Republic Act No. 11470. Located in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, NAS offers a unique dual-track system combining quality secondary education with a specialized sports curriculum—enabling young student-athletes to hone their talents while continuing their academic journey.
On economic issues, Senator Go emphasized food security and job creation as key priorities: “Food security, it’s important. There should not be an empty stomach among every Filipino. Work is also very important. Job creation,” he said in his interview.
Finally, Senator Go stressed the need to ensure that providing government support for the poor is delay-free and politics-free: “There should be no politics in helping because it’s taxpayers’ money we are spending. It should be institutionalized helping our citizens. Politicians must not be the ones to choose in giving ayuda.”
Taxpayers’ money
Furthermore, Senator Go reiterated this stance: “What I really want is to bring service closer to the people. Pro-poor programs, they should not be tinged by politics. I don’t want that. It’s taxpayers’ money, we must give it back to them.”
READ: Bong Go maintains lead in survey, a week before the May 12 polls
Regarding the pending impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Go said that due process must be respected.
“Assuming that I win, once I get proclaimed, I will work,” he said. “Speaking of impeachment, if there’s no evidence it should be concluded right away. We should start working already. The people suffer when there is bickering in the government.”
Looking back at his campaign performance, Senator Go noted the uphill battle he faced: “It was tough. Uphill climb but I tough it out,” he said, adding that he considers this as a performance rating being an incumbent senator.
“That’s where you see if you have done your job the past six years,” he added.
Expressing gratitude for the trust of millions of Filipinos, Senator Go said: “Thank you to the Almighty God. Thank you to Allah. Thank you to our countrymen for their support and trust.”
As he prepares for his next term in the Senate, Senator Go repeated his governing philosophy: “I will just work. hard work and compassion and service. That’s what I’m going to do. It’s a waste of time to fight. It’s unfair to Filipinos.”
