CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Sunday renewed his pitch for improved and long-term sports development programs targeting athletes in the grassroots.
Go made the call after gracing the Philippine Basketball Association’s Al-Star Game at the Calasiao Sports Complex here.
PBA Comissioner Willie Marcial (L) and Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (R)
The former SAP—who is an adopted son of Pangasinan----also joined PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and the organizers of the tournament in awarding the outstanding PBA All-Star players. In December last year, the provincial board adopted a resolution adopting Go as a son of the province.
“Talaga pong nakaka-bilib ang galing ng ating mga manlalarong Pinoy. Tulad po ng marami nating kababayan, isa rin ako sa mga fan ng PBA,” Go noted.
It could be recalled that Go headed the Philippine Delegation last year for the Asian Qualifiers games as part of the World Cup campaign of the Gilas Pilipinas team.
Go was also instrumental in brokering an agreement among all stakeholders that led to the deployment of a team in the 18th Asian Games in August last year.
However, Go lamented that while the Philippines was widely-recognized as a sports powerhouse—particularly in basketball—in the 1950s, the country’s sports performance has been on a steady decline.
“Kailangan po talaga ng mas maigting na suporta mula sa gobyerno para ma-develop ang angking galing sa sports ng ating mga kabataang Pinoy, kaya naman po kung papalarin gusto kong isulong ang isang grassroots long-term sports development program,” Go said.
As part of his legislative agenda for long-term sports development, Go is proposing to establish sports and youth development centers in every local government unit nationwide.
Based on Go’s proposed program, such centers will provide the youth not only with free sports training, use of equipment and other important life skills such as entrepreneurship to teach the youth values of sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork.
“Hindi lamang po ito basta sa sports. Bukod sa magkakaroon ng disiplina ang ating mga kabataan mailalayo natin sila sa masasamang bisyo tulad ng ilegal na droga,” Go pointed out.
In addition, Go envisions the conduct of annual national sports caravans to improve the national athletes' pool and to increase as well as the incentives for sports competitions not presently covered by the law.
“Lagi ko pong sinasabi sa ating mga kabataan, mag-sports na lang kayo at huwag ninyong susubukan ang droga,” he added.
In running for the Senate, Go had vowed to support the programs and policies of President Rodrigo Duterte, including the campaign against corruption, criminality, and illegal drugs.
Go is also pushing for a law that would allow the establishment of Malasakit Center in more provinces and key urban areas of the country as part of his advocacy to improve access to quality medical service from the government.
A project of the Duterte administration based on Go’s idea the Malasakit Center makes it easier and faster for poor patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned government agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO, and Philhealth.
“Importante na maging malusog at malakas ang ating mga kababayan para mas makatulong sila sa kanilang komunidad,” he added.
Other priority concerns under Go’s legislative agenda include agriculture, education, housing, localized peace talks, fire protection and prevention, barangay welfare, the creation of a Department of OFW and improved benefits for senior citizens.