Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go continues efforts to help bring public health services closer to communities in far-flung areas as he traveled north of the country to personally attend the inauguration of the Super Health Center in Santa Praxedes, Cagayan last Thursday.

Accompanied by local officials, including Vice Governor Melvin Vargas Jr., Sta. Praxedes Mayor Esterlina Aguinaldo and acting Vice Mayor Gil Buenavista, the senator reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to improve access to basic healthcare for those who need government attention the most.

Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. The Department of Health — the lead implementing agency — identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.

Services offered in Super Health Centers will include 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.

Apart from Sta. Praxedes, the DoH also identified other areas in Cagayan province where more Super Health Centers will be established, including Peñablanca, Sta. Teresita, Buguey, Aparri, Sto. Niño, Tuao and Lal-lo — the last one’s groundbreaking having been personally attended by Go later that day.

Go also encouraged the public to take advantage of the services offered in the Malasakit Center located at Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City.

Following the inauguration, the lawmaker joined the celebration of Sarakat Festival at municipal hall grounds which is the annual celebration in Sta. Praxedes, commencing the feast of the patron saint of the town, St. Isidore de Labrador.

During the festival, Go was honored as an adopted son of Sta. Praxedes. The resolution adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan on 8 May 2023 stated that Go “has been consistently giving various kind of assistance to the Local Government Unit of Sta. Praxedes for the past few years.”

The senator also led a relief operation at the municipal gymnasium for 1,500 indigents. Go and his team distributed grocery packs, masks, vitamins, snacks and shirts while they also gave away bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients.