Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, on Monday, September 29, delivered a manifestation in the Senate expressing his full support for the proposed 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), praising Vice President Sara Duterte’s initiatives and contrasting them against what he described as flood control projects that have become “gatasan” for unscrupulous individuals.
The Senate finance committee where Go serves as Vice Chairperson earlier approved the proposed budget of the OVP.
“Tiwala po ako sa ating Vice President at sigurado po ako na nagagamit nang tama ang pondo ng bayan,” Go stated during the Senate budget deliberations on September 29.
He stressed his confidence in the way Duterte’s office manages public funds, recalling his years of service under former President Rodrigo Duterte and his familiarity with the Duterte family’s approach to clean governance.
“Sa totoo lamang po, matagal po akong nagtrabaho kay former President Duterte at naabutan ko po noong siya po’y naging bise mayor ng Davao, (at mayor) si Vice President Sara. Kung istrikto po si dating mayor at dating Pangulong Duterte sa gobyerno, mas istrikto po si VP Sara at alam ko pong magagamit talaga ang pondo para sa pantulong sa ating mga kababayan,” he assured.
“Kaysa naman po napupunta lang sa flood control na gatasan po ng iilang mapagsamantala,” Go cited, highlighting how billions of public funds have been stolen in anomalous or ghost projects while the OVP budget was decreased despite providing direct benefits to vulnerable sectors.
Go went into detail about the programs rolled out by the OVP in recent years, emphasizing their direct benefits to ordinary Filipinos. He even urged fellow lawmakers to find ways to allocate more funding to the OVP to sustain its services.
“Sa mga nakaraang taon, nagkaroon ang OVP ng mga programang nagbibigay ng tunay na benepisyo sa ating mamamayan. From medical assistance, to relief operations, educational support, pangkabuhayan programs, at libreng sakay among others,” he noted.
Among the highlights was the OVP’s Medical and Burial Assistance Program, which he cited has helped more than 187,000 beneficiaries when it was still funded. In 2024 alone, the office extended assistance to over 144,000 individuals in need.
He likewise cited the Magnegosyo ‘ta Day Program, which provides entrepreneurial opportunities, including livelihood assistance and training for marginalized groups. The OVP has also been active in disaster relief efforts, aiding more than 200,000 individuals in calamity-hit areas.
“Nakikita ko rin po ito dahil ako mismo umiikot rin po ako sa mga tinatamaan po ng bagyo,” Go added, drawing from his own experience in relief operations across the country.
He also underscored the impact of the Libreng Sakay Program, which has served over a million passengers in Metro Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, and Davao. “Ito po yung nabanggit ko kanina na atin pong sinusuportahan,” he remarked, pointing out that he has also personally supported the OVP’s free transportation efforts “in my own small way.”
Go also rooted his remarks in his personal experience as a Davaoeño who had long worked with the Duterte family. He emphasized that his support for the Vice President is based not only on alliance but also on his firsthand knowledge of her good governance style and priorities.
“As a proud Davaoeño, I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable work of the Vice President when she was still the Mayor of Davao City. And when she became Vice President, I sincerely believe Vice President Duterte’s initiatives have been instrumental in helping this government uplift lives and promote the welfare of all Filipinos,” Go said.
