Bong Go hopes Duterte's SONA will focus on measures to address COVID pandemic

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Saturday expressed hope that President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address would center on the government's plans and efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senator also wanted to know the measures being taken by the government "to address the needs of the people to overcome the hardships that the crisis has caused in everyone’s lives, and also... to sustain the gains of the Duterte administration’s promise of a comfortable life for all despite the challenges that we are facing.”

Go stressed the importance of ramping up the Philippines' health care system as the country prepares not only for a new normal but a "better normal and better quality of life."

“Aside from enhancing our overall capacity to Test, Trace and Treat COVID-19 cases, I am hoping that he will also prioritize improving the capacities and capabilities of public hospitals, establishing mandatory quarantine facilities and evacuation centers, strengthening our health workforce, promoting the welfare and well-being of our medical frontliners, and preparing a national vaccine program for COVID-19 in anticipation of its availability to ensure that Filipinos can have access to it,” Go said.

Go said he expects to see more health-related bills to be prioritized as Congress is set to open its second regular session of the 18th Congress next week. 

Go also called for the development of a national vaccine program for the strategic allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine to the general population in anticipation of possible challenges once the vaccine is made available.

“Kapag dumating ang panahon na mayroon nang vaccine at gamot laban sa COVID-19, dapat handa tayo na mabigyan ang lahat ng Pilipinong nangangailangan nito, mahirap man o mayaman,” Go said previously.

Go also said he expects Duterte will shed a spotlight on key economic responses to mitigate the human and economic impact of the pandemic. -MDM, GMA News