Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, joined officials of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) recently to launch the newly completed Balay Lingap halfway house, underscoring his push for patient-centered healthcare infrastructure.

The Balay Lingap facility, which Go advocated for, provides temporary shelter for patient companions who would otherwise be forced to sleep in waiting areas or pay for costly outside accommodations.

The third and fourth floors of the halfway house are dedicated to temporary shelter for outpatients and caregivers. The second floor features a patients’ lounge, while the ground floor will operate as a 24/7 hospice and palliative care unit for terminally ill patients.

Go cited that the concept of hospital halfway houses originated years ago in Davao City during the administration of then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and has since evolved into a national model designed to alleviate the hardship of families who often travel long distances for treatment.

The initiative aligns with Go’s efforts as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance to ensure sufficient budget allocations for healthcare infrastructure and patient welfare programs. Go is also the principal sponsor and one of the authors of Republic Act 12210, which increased UP-PGH’s bed capacity from 1,334 to 2,200.

In his message at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Go expressed deep gratitude to the medical community.

“The ones we should really be thanking now are not us politicians, but our medical frontliners,” he said. “We would not be where we are without you. I have high respect for you.”

Go stressed the importance of providing holistic care that goes beyond medical treatment, especially for the poor. The Balay Lingap is one of several halfway houses championed by the senator, with others either constructed or in development at facilities including the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center and the Philippine Heart Center.

The event was attended by Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, and other hospital officials who commended the senator’s support for the country’s premiere public hospital.

Following the ceremony, Go and his team distributed 30 food packs to UP-PGH staff as a gesture of appreciation. Go reaffirmed his commitment to serving with compassion, stating, “My service to the people is service to God.”