Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday joined local officials, health workers, and residents in inaugurating the Super Health Center in Barangay Pangi, Maco, Davao de Oro, reinforcing efforts to bring basic healthcare services closer to communities.

The facility is the second Super Health Center in Maco. Go also attended the groundbreaking of the first center in Barangay Binuangan in 2023.

Joining him were Davao de Oro Vice Governor Dorothy Gonzaga, Maco Mayor Arthur Carlos Rimando, Vice Mayor Alvera Veronica Rimando, barangay officials and other local leaders.

Go said the Super Health Center aims to make medical services more accessible, allowing residents to receive consultations, checkups, and X-ray services without traveling to Tagum, Mati, or Davao City for minor medical concerns.

“This Super Health Center brings healthcare closer to the people. Residents can now have consultations, checkups, and X-ray services here instead of traveling to Tagum, Mati, or Davao for minor cases,” he said.

His office also distributed grocery packs, shirts, pens, basketballs, and volleyballs to barangay health workers, whom he praised for their dedication, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Designed to strengthen primary healthcare, Super Health Centers provide consultations, early disease detection, and basic diagnostic services while helping decongest hospitals by treating common illnesses at the community level.

Go emphasized that the success of the program depends on close coordination between the Department of Health (DoH) and local government units.

“The DoH and local governments must work together so these facilities become fully operational and truly benefit the people,” he said, adding that government-funded projects should never become “white elephants.”

He urged local officials to maximize the facility, stressing that public funds must always translate into services that directly benefit Filipinos.

Nine Super Health Centers have been identified for Davao de Oro, including facilities in Compostela, Mawab, Montevista, Nabunturan, Maco and Monkayo. The Pangi facility is among the projects funded under the 2023 Super Health Center program.

Go also renewed his call for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to maximize its resources to expand healthcare coverage, saying many Filipinos still avoid seeking medical treatment because of financial constraints.

He cited recent PhilHealth reforms, including higher case rates, expanded coverage for optometric and assistive devices, emergency outpatient services, and the removal of the 45-day benefit limit and the Single Period of Confinement policy.

“All these projects and government assistance are funded by the people’s money. No one should claim credit for them,” Go said, adding that he remains committed to serving Filipinos and protecting their access to government healthcare and other essential services.