SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, leading the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, remains dedicated to making public health services accessible to Filipinos even at the community-level as he continues to push for the establishment of more Super Health Centers in strategic locations nationwide as identified and implemented by the Department of Health.
In a speech given during his visit to the Super Health Center in Villa Victorias Housing, Barangay 13 in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, March 24, Go emphasized the importance of such centers to ensure the well-being of Filipinos, especially in far-flung areas.
“Kaya po ako narito ngayon para makatulong. At malaki po ang aking utang na loob dito sa Victorias sa inyong suporta sa akin. At huwag ho kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Parati ko kasing naririnig, ‘salamat senador sa mga tulong, salamat sa mga proyekto.’ Sa totoo lang po, ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan nyo po ako ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” greeted Go.
Furthermore, Go expressed his gratitude towards the local government of the city for their collective efforts to make the city’s Super Health Center a reality, including Congressman Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, Governor Eugenio “Bong” Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, Vice Mayor Abelardo “JunB” Bantug III, Councilor Derek Palanca, among others.
“Gusto kong pasalamatan ang ating minamahal na mayor. Nakikita ko (na) napakaganda po ng kanyang vision para sa Victorias (City), lalung-lalo na po yung healthcare system natin. (Lagi kong sinasabi na) the more we should invest sa ating healthcare system,” expressed Go.
During the activity, Go and his Malasakit Team also distributed grocery packs and meals to the barangay health workers who were in attendance. They also gave away shirts and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients.
Go emphasized his dedication to addressing the healthcare gap for grassroots communities with Super Health Centers, easing the burden of long journeys to hospitals for basic health services.
“Sa pamamaraan ng ating good senator, palakpakan po natin itong Super Health Center para sa Victorias (City). (Isang paraan) para ipalapit nating gobyerno ang healthcare, especially sa mga taong nangangailangan. Maraming salamat sa pagpunta ninyo dito at sa pagtitiwala niyo sa amin,” Mayor Benitez then expressed.
Super Health Centers are strategically designed to deliver primary care and medical consultations, while enhancing the early detection of diseases at the grassroots to bolster the healthcare sector.
“Pwede na po rito ang checkup, Konsulta ng PhilHealth kasi lahat ng Pilipino miyembro ng PhilHealth. Dito na ang primary care ng 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.
Through the collective efforts of Go, the DOH led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units (LGUs), and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for the construction of more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including 31 in the province.
Go also visited and inspected the Super Health Center in Bacolod City earlier that day as well as the Super Health Center in Himamaylan the previous day.
In his visits to the cities of Victorias, Himamaylan and Bacolod, he also provided assistance to displaced workers aside from the temporary employment provided by the Department of Labor and Employment to qualified beneficiaries through Go’s initiative. He also assisted fire victims that day before participating in the PBA All Star Weekend festivities held in Bacolod.
Go then expressed concern for the public’s well-being and encouraged them to seek additional assistance, particularly for health issues, by visiting the Malasakit Center at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.
The Malasakit Centers institutionalized through Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, are one-stop shops that enable various government agencies to streamline access of indigent patients to medical assistance programs. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Act, which paved the way for establishing 161 Malasakit Centers. According to the DOH, these centers are operational nationwide and have assisted more than ten million Filipinos.
Go also highlighted RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate. The law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals to bring specialized medical care to all regions.
CLMMRH plans to enhance its services through specialty centers that shall focus on cardiovascular care, renal care and transplant centers, brain and spine care, orthopedic care, neonatal care, burn care, trauma care, toxicology care, cancer care, geriatric care, infectious disease, and tropical medicine.
As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, he also supported the construction of a multipurpose building in Victorias City.
