Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go has reminded authorities to ensure the health of families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng by giving them the needed medicines and shelter.

"Let us also ensure that there is enough health and medical supply in evacuation centers and health centers," the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography said.

Go likewise urged authorities to ensure that health protocols are still in place as the Covid-19 pandemic remains.

The senator said his office is closely coordinating with concerned agencies and local government units to provide whatever assistance is needed by the typhoon-affected families to recover.

"We are going to help to the best of our ability to ease the burden of our suffering countrymen," he said.

Meanwhile, the extent of devastation caused by "Paeng" and recent calamities makes his call to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience and build mandatory evacuation centers in every town, city, and province more relevant than ever, Go said.

Earlier, the senator filed Senate Bill 193 which mandates the establishment of safe and clean evacuation centers in every city, province, and municipality nationwide as well as the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience and more Super Health Centers.

"As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, I continue to look for solutions that can hasten the delivery of quality public healthcare services especially in remote villages," he said.

Go revealed that nearly PhP3.6 billion has been allocated in the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program to construct 307 SHCs this year.

The SHC is an improved version of the rural health unit. It offers database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgery.

Eye, ear, nose and throat service, oncology, physical therapy and rehabilitation and telemedicine for remote diagnosis and treatment of patients are also available.

Further, SHCs will serve as satellite vaccination sites for Filipinos living far from urban centers, according to Go.

SHCs will beef up Malasakit Centers which have already helped millions of Filipinos nationwide.

The 152 MCs in public hospitals nationwide are one-stop shops where patients can avail of medical assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development and PhilHealth. Most of the centers were established under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which Go principally authored.

Leo Otarra from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and Maredil Eleuterio Saquian from Taguig City are among the millions of MC beneficiaries.

Otarra met Go during the latter's visit in Cebu last 20 October to thank the senator as the MC helped in the treatment of his son who has cerebral palsy.