Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go reiterated his commitment to strengthening healthcare services in the country for the marginalized sector as he also lauded the local government of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro for the successful groundbreaking of its Super Health Center which he personally attended.

The senator — who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography — said that more Super Health Centers are planned to be established and strategically located in rural areas where basic health services are not easily accessible.

Go earlier said that a sufficient budget had been allocated in the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program to be able to construct at least 307 Super Health Centers across the country.

To establish more such centers, the senator likewise successfully pushed for additional funds in the 2023 health budget.

The Super Health Center is an improved version of the rural health unit. It offers health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose and throat service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

The lawmaker then gave recognition to all of the frontliners who have been dedicating and risking their lives to serve their fellow Filipinos.

After the groundbreaking, Go and his team proceeded to Sablayan Astrodome where the senator led a relief activity for 500 indigents. They distributed grocery packs, masks, vitamins, meals and shirts to the residents and also gave away bicycles, shoes, watches and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.

In line with his commitment to help more poor and indigent patients nationwide, Go also encouraged those with health concerns to seek the services of the Malasakit Center at Occidental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Mamburao.

Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program back in 2018. It was later institutionalized under Republic Act 11463 which the senator principally authored and sponsored in the Senate.

The Act mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all Department of Health-run hospitals and in the Philippine General Hospital to ensure that financially incapacitated Filipinos can conveniently get medical assistance from the government. To date, there are 153 operational centers nationwide.