SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has remained steadfast in bringing essential public health services closer to more Filipinos through the establishment of Super Health Centers.
In his speech during the inspection of a Super Health Center in Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija, on Friday, March 15, Go highlighted the trust people have placed in him and his commitment to work tirelessly for Filipinos.
“Unang una, ‘wag kayong magpasalamat sa amin… kami ang dapat na magpasalamat sa inyong lahat dahil binigyan nyo kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyong lahat,” he said.
Go also underscored his dedication to bridging the gap between healthcare and the people through Super Health Centers, thus alleviating the difficulty of extensive travel to access primary health services.
“Ipagpatuloy natin na ilapit ang serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap na walang matakbuhan kundi ang mga government health facilities. Para sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan, napakaimportante po nito dahil iyan po ang kanilang lalapitan po talaga. The more we should support it, the more na mag-invest po tayo sa ating healthcare system,” Go said.
Super Health Centers are strategically designed to emphasize delivering primary care, offering consultations, and enhancing the early detection of diseases at the grassroots. They aim to bolster the healthcare sector throughout the nation, with a particular emphasis on rural communities.
Super Health Centers offer basic health services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit.Other available services in Super Health Centers are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation centers; and telemedicine.
Through the collective efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units (LGUs), and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the DOH for the construction of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022, 322 in 2023, and 132 in 2024.
In Nueva Ecija, a total of nine Super Health Centers are funded.
As an adopted son of Nueva Ecija, Go also made it a point to acknowledge the presence and contributions of local officials. He expressed his gratitude to Congressman GP Padiernos, Congressman Joseph Violago, Mayor Armi Alvarez, and Vice Mayor Nestor Alvarez, among others present, for their leadership.
In his speech, Mayor Alvarez expressed his gratitude towards Go for the establishment of the Super Health Center. The Mayor articulated the town’s appreciation for Go’s dedication to health and welfare, highlighting the senator’s swift response to their needs.
“Alam po ninyo, isang tawag po lang po sa kanyang secretary, kay Senator Bong Go, lahat po nang kailangan natin, lalung lalo na po sa kalusugan. At pareho po namin ng advocacy, ano po, kalusugan. Kasi napakahalaga talaga po na tayo ay mayroon magandang kalusugan. Kaya naman po nandiyan… binigyan na tayo ng Super Health Center,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congressman Violago highlighted the strategic partnership with Go, emphasizing the senator’s exemplary service and dedication.
“Ang senador po na ito, napakasipag, napakagaling. Nagkasama na rin po sila ng aking maybahay noong nakaraang Kongreso,” Violago remarked.
“Ngayon po, ay sabi niya eh, kaming dalawa rin po ay naka-suporta sa kanya dito sa ating Segundo Distrito. Ang tao po na iisa lang po ang bisyo. Ang bisyo po niya ay walang iba, kundi po magserbisyo,” he added.
Meanwhile, the senator and his Malasakit Team also distributed snacks, food packs, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball to barangay health workers present during his visit.
To ensure that medical assistance programs by the government are within reach, Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018. It was later institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored. The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where Filipinos can conveniently access medical assistance programs that the concerned agencies offer.
Malasakit Centers in the province are located at Eduardo L. Joson Memorial Hospital, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRMC) in Cabanatuan City, and Talavera General Hospital in Talavera. To date, 161 Malasakit Centers nationwide have helped more than ten million Filipinos.
Go also emphasized the significance of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, for which he was the principal sponsor and one of the authors in the Senate. This Act has been a cornerstone in the Marcos administration’s healthcare legislative priorities, as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028.
There are specialty centers inside PJGMRMC that provide burn, trauma, and eye care. Other specialty centers, such as cardiovascular care, renal and transplant care, lung care, orthopedic care, mental health, neonatal care, cancer care, geriatric care, and dermatology care, will also be established inside the said hospital.
