Photo credit: Senator Bong Go

TARLAC — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is making waves in youth and education advocacy, recently supporting scholars in Tarlac through the Commission on Higher Education’s Tulong Dunong Program (CHED-TDP).

During the orientation on Friday, November 7, Go, chair of the Senate Youth Committee, highlighted the transformative power of education.

“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan at edukasyon ang susi tungo sa mas magandang kinabukasan,” he said.

CHED-TDP provides scholarships to students from low-income families, helping them continue their college education and pursue brighter futures. In Tarlac, 152 scholars received essentials like snacks, shirts, pens, balls, and fans at the Tarlac State University Gymnasium.

Go, known to many as “Senator Kuya Bong Go,” also shared a heartfelt message with the students:

“Ako ang inyong Senator Kuya Bong Go, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos.”

Photo credit: Senator Bong Go

A strong advocate of accessible education, Go has backed laws that broaden educational opportunities, including:

- RA 11510 – Institutionalizing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) for marginalized learners

- RA 11984 – Protecting students from being barred from exams due to unpaid fees

- RA 12006 – Waiving college entrance exam fees for eligible senior high students

- RA 12077 – Offering student loan payment relief during disasters

“Huwag kayong titigil sa inyong pangarap dahil ito ay simula pa lang ng mas magandang bukas para sa inyo,” Go encouraged the scholars.

Through initiatives like CHED-TDP and his legislative work, Go continues to champion the belief that empowering the youth through education is key to building a stronger nation.