Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, filed on 9 February, Senate Bill 1783, seeking to establish the Tigaon Mother and Child General Hospital in Camarines Sur to address the town’s growing need for accessible maternal and child healthcare.

“It is very important that we bring healthcare services closer to the people, especially for pregnant women, mothers, and children. When medical services are more accessible, more lives can be saved and families’ health will improve,” Go said.

Go emphasized that access to quality maternal and child healthcare, including prenatal, neonatal and postnatal care, is crucial in reducing mortality, preventing complications, and ensuring healthy child development. 

Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Municipality of Tigaon had a population of 60,524 as of the 2020 Census. 

Despite this sizable population, many residents currently rely on the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, located more than 40 kilometers away. 

Hard to access services

Patients often need to travel for at least an hour to access specialized maternal and child healthcare services, creating barriers to timely and effective care.

The bill also seeks to reduce the need for long, potentially risky travel for medical care while improving overall maternal and child health outcomes in Tigaon and its neighboring municipalities.

The senator reiterated the importance of strengthening healthcare infrastructure nationwide, particularly in provincial areas, to ensure more Filipinos have access to adequate and timely medical services.