Senator Bong Go commended by sports personalities for helping Philippine sports, health sectors

Senator Bong Go commended by sports personalities for helping Philippine sports, health sectors

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go was praised by different sports personalities for his great dedication of intensifying sports grassroots development, health sector, and his role in pursuing some key policies that benefit the Filipino athletes. 

Veteran sports journalist Joaquin Henson and Olympian silver and bronze medalist Nesthy Petecio expressed their gratitude to Senator Go, the senate committee on sports chairman since 2019, for elevating Philippine sports in such ways. 

According to Henson, Go has been at the forefront of the country’s efforts to increase funding for the preparation, training, and competitive performance of Filipino athletes while launching effective programs to cultivate the talents of young and aspiring sports enthusiasts at the grassroots level.

Go attended the recent Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night at the Manila Hotel, giving his all-out support to all awardees like presenting the Athlete of the Year award to gymnast Carlos Yulo, a two-time gold medalist in the upcoming Paris Olympics. 

He praised Yulo for his discipline and world-class performances, which continue to inspire young athletes nationwide.  

“Ang tagumpay ng ating mga atleta ay tagumpay ng buong bansa. Kaya naman, hindi natin sila pababayaan. Patuloy tayong magsusulong ng mga programa na magpapalakas ng Philippine sports,” Go said. 

As the senate committee chairman on sports, he pushes for the approval of sports and athletes’ higher annual funding budget that helped the country won three Olympic gold medals — one from Hidilyn Diaz in Tokyo and two from Yulo in Paris — since 2019.

As a known advocate of grassroots sports development, Go has consistently pushed for increased funding to improve training programs, athlete incentives, and sports facilities across the country. 

He authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11470, which established the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. The NAS serves as a premier institution to develop young athletes while ensuring they receive quality education alongside their sports training.  

Senator Go also played a key role in securing the country’s successful hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where Filipino athletes delivered historic performances, including the country’s first Olympic gold medal wins. 

“Ang ating mga kabataan ay may potensyal na maging world-class athlete's kung mabibigyan sila ng tamang suporta. Kaya dapat nating siguruhing may sapat na pondo, tamang training facilities, at mga programang magpapalakas sa kanila,” he emphasized.  

Petecio, a silver-medalist during the Tokyo games and bronze in 2024 Paris games, also acknowledged Go in her speech: “Kay Senator Bong Go, maraming salamat po sa inyong suporta sa mga atleta. Maraming salamat po, lalo na sa grassroots. Patuloy niyo lang po kaming sinusuportahan, Sir dahil alam ko napakadami pa pong nasa grassroots na gusto maging tulad namin.”

(✍️Admin Roy Tomandao)