SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Super Health Center in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Friday, April 12.
Senator Go emphasized the essential role of Super Health Centers in making government services more accessible in the grassroots and enhancing the quality of healthcare at the community-level.
Go explained that the primary goal of these centers is to bridge the gap between the government and communities, particularly in remote and underserved areas. By providing a range of services, from early disease detection to basic medical services, Super Health Centers are designed to alleviate the burden on hospitals and ensure that healthcare is more readily available to those in need within their localities.
“Pwede na po rito ang check-up, Konsulta package ng PhilHealth kasi lahat naman ng Pilipino ay miyembro ng PhilHealth. Dito na ang primary care mula sa Universal Health Care, dito na ang early disease detection para hindi lumala yung sakit. Madi-decongest ang hospital dahil dito na kayo pwede magpagamot at pati rin manganak. Dental, laboratory, x-ray, ultrasound dito na po. At kung gusto ni mayor, sa susunod pagnatapos ito ay pwede lagyan ng pang-dialysis,” the senator explained further.
During his speech, Go urged the residents of Tagoloan to take full advantage of the new facility once completed.
“Patuloy nating ilapit ang serbisyo medikal mula sa gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito lalo na sa mga mahihirap at mga walang ibang malalapitan. Pera naman ng taumbayan ‘yan, ibalik dapat sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng maayos na serbisyong pangkalusugan. Tandaan natin na ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.
The establishment of this center in Tagoloan is part of a broader initiative, with more than 700 Super Health Centers funded across the country, including thirteen in Misamis Oriental with six in Cagayan de Oro City. These efforts are in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers.
Senator Go concluded his address by expressing gratitude towards the local government of Tagoloan for their trust and support to such initiatives that benefit the poor and vulnerable.
“This project is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. Thank you for your commitment to improving the lives of your community members,” he added.
The groundbreaking was attended by Congressman Bambi Emano and Mayor Atty. Nadya Emano-Elipe, among others.Moreover, Go underscored that his initiative reflects a proactive approach to healthcare, aiming to ensure that more Filipinos have access to essential medical services without the need to travel far from their homes.
“Patuloy po akong tutulong sa pagpaparami ng Super Health Centers sa bansa sa abot po ng aking makakaya. Sa mga itinayo ng Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad lalo na sa rural areas. ‘Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” underscored Go.
Meanwhile, Go also provided grocery packs to the barangay health workers present and snacks to some children. There were also select recipients of shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
In line with his efforts to promote greater access to quality healthcare, Go, father of Malasakit Centers program, personally attended the launch of the country’s 162nd Malasakit Center at the First Misamis Oriental General Hospital in Medina earlier that day.
The Malasakit center is a one-stop shop which connects patients with concerned agencies that offer medical assistance programs, namely DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The program was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored. The centers have assisted more than ten million patients altogether, according to DOH.
Moreover, Go is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals to bring specialized medical services to all regions.
Northern Mindanao Medical Centers currently houses several specialty centers, including cardiovascular care, lung care, orthopedic center, mental health, neonatal care, infectious disease, and tropical medicine. It also plans to have a renal care and transplant center, physical rehabilitation medicine, toxicology, cancer care, burn care, trauma care, geriatric care, and eye care.
Lastly, Go attended the blessing and inauguration ceremony of the Northeastern Misamis General Hospital located in Villanueva. He sponsored the law that establishes the hospital and supported the funding for its construction as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
Go’s visit to the province also included assisting displaced workers in Medina and Villanueva.
