Senator Bong Go lauded the Department of Health and the local government of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte for the successful groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center on Tuesday, 14 March as he continue his advocacy to improve the country’s health sector and establish more health facilities that would significantly benefit Filipinos, especially in the countryside.

In his video message, Go expressed his optimism that more disadvantaged Filipinos will be able to access basic healthcare services through the Super Health Centers that will be strategically located particularly in rural communities.

The senator was instrumental in pushing for the budget for the Labason Super Health Center and hundreds more such centers nationwide. Through his initiative and with the support of his fellow lawmakers, some 307 SHCs were funded in 2022.

Go committed his continued support for the establishment of more Super Health Centers in the country as he has likewise successfully pushed for additional funds for 322 more centers in the 2023 health budget.

“Sa pag-iikot ko sa bansa, napansin ko na kakaunti lang talaga ang ating health facilities, lalo na sa maliliit na lugar. Minsan po yung iba ay nanganganak na lang sa tricycle sa layo ng byahe. Huwag sana natin hayaan na mangyari pa yon. Kaya talagang isinusulong ko ang pagkakaroon ng Super Health Centers. Pinili at inilagay ito ng DOH sa strategic areas. Pagkatapos nito, it will be managed and it will be turned over na sa local government unit,” noted Go.

Super Health Centers offer health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Apart from Labason, Super Health Centers will also be established in the cities of Dapitan and Dipolog; in the towns of Kalawit, Sindangan, and Sirawai; and in two more unspecified locations in the province.

Go then offered additional help to those in need of medical attention. He also encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Centers at the Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City and Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City where they can more conveniently access medical assistance from the government.

With over seven million poor and indigent Filipinos helped nationwide according to the Department of Health, the Malasakit Centers program has successfully established 156 centers, bringing together relevant agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to help reduce a patient’s hospital expenses to the lowest possible amount.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the senator has likewise supported numerous initiatives to promote the development of the province, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings in Dapitan City, Jose Dalman, Mutia, President Manuel A. Roxas, Salug, Siocon, and Sindangan; acquisition of ambulance units for Mutia and trucks for Katipunan and Mutia; and rehabilitation of roads in Dapitan City, Godod, Jose Dalman, Liloy, Kalawit Labason, La Libertad, Sergio Osmeña and Salug.

“Ipagpatuloy lang natin ang pagbibigay serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan lalo na po ang mga hopeless at mga helpless. This is truly a community effort, and I am proud to be a part of it,” Go concluded.