Senator Bong Go and his team visited Santa Cruz, Laguna to provide assistance to struggling residents on Monday, 13 March. The event was aimed at providing aid to indigent residents who are facing difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic and various crises.

Being close to the people of Laguna, as he himself is a Batangueño and an adopted son of CALABARZON, Go said during his message that he is happy to be of service to the less fortunate residents in the province.

“Malapit po sa akin ang mga taga-Laguna, bilang Batangueño din po (ako). Masaya po ako na nakakatulong lalung lalo na po sa mahihirap,” said Go.

The senator also emphasized the importance of prioritizing the needs of the less fortunate members of society, particularly those who are hopeless and helpless, pledging to work tirelessly for their welfare.

During the event, Go and his team distributed food packs, masks, snacks, and vitamins to 500 indigent residents at DGP Compound in Barangay Calios. They also provided select individuals with bicycles, pairs of shoes, cellular phones, watches, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball.

Advocating for better access to quality healthcare services, Go then shared some of his priority measures to bring medical services closer to communities in need.

“Bilang chair ng Committee on Health sa Senado, ang aking advocacy po ay i-improve ‘yung healthcare system natin at ilapit ang serbisyo medikal sa mga taong nangangailangan,” Go said.

“Kasama rito ang karagdagang mga specialty center, yung pagpapatuloy ng mga Malasakit Center po — mayroon na tayong 156 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo, at itong pagtatayo ng Super Health Centers sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa,” Go told the beneficiaries.

Go also highlighted one of the priorities of the current administration which is to create more specialty centers in various parts of the country.

“Priority natin ‘yung mga specialty center. ‘Yung mga Heart Center, Cancer Center, at iba pang mga specialty center na kailangan pong ilapit natin sa mga rehiyon para hindi na ho sila kailangan pang pumunta ng Maynila,” he previously said.

On the other hand, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that provides medical assistance to poor and indigent patients. The center brings together several government agencies, including the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and DSWD, to offer medical assistance programs to those in need.

He advised the Laguna residents to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers in the province located at Laguna Medical Center in Santa Cruz, and San Pablo City General Hospital in San Pablo City.

Aside from Malasakit Centers, Go is also pushing for the construction of more Super Health Centers nationwide, especially in rural areas.

Through Go’s efforts and the support of DOH and his fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the 2022 national budget for the construction of some 307 Super Health Centers. He was likewise successful in pushing for additional funds under the 2023 budget to support the construction of 322 SHCs in other parts of the country.

In 2022, Go supported the construction of Super Health Centers in the province, particularly in the cities of Biñan, Cabuyao, Calamba, San Pedro, and Sta. Rosa; and in the towns of Alaminos and Mabitac.

This year, more Super Health Centers were funded in San Pablo City, and in the towns of Sta. Maria, Los Baños, and Calauan.

To help boost economic growth and improve the delivery of public services in the province, the senator also supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Cavinti, Liliw, Lumban, Majayjay, Pagsanjan, Pila, Sta. Cruz and Sta. Maria; construction of slaughterhouses in Mabitac, Nagcarlan, and Pagsanjan; and construction of public markets in Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pagsanjan, and Rizal.

Other projects he supported are the construction of a farm-to-market road and a multipurpose covered court in Paete, the construction of a drainage canal in Cabuyao City, repair of the primary road inside Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa City, and installation of street lights in Lumban and Magdalena.

On the same day, Go also joined the Anilag Festival celebration at the Provincial Capitol Compound in Santa Cruz.

Last 7 March, Go personally provided assistance to struggling residents, composed of indigents and typhoon victims, in San Pedro City, Laguna after he inspected the Super Health Center in the town. On 8 March, his team also aided residents in Pangil town.