Senator Bong Go, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, personally attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a Super Health Center in Caraga, Davao Oriental on Saturday, 18 November.
In his speech, Go highlighted the role Super Health Centers play in advancing the government's commitment to providing quality healthcare to all Filipinos. He also conveyed that establishing more health facilities can significantly bolster healthcare accessibility, especially in underserved areas.
"Lahat ng tao sa mundo ay may bisyo. Ang bisyo ng doctor gamutin ang mga pasyente di ba? Ang mga BHW tutulungan ang mga pasyente rin. Ang mga pulis ang bisyo ng pulis hulihin ang mga kriminal. Ako mayroon rin akong bisyo. Ang aking bisyo ay magserbisyo sa mamamayan. Iyan ang aking bisyo," Go said.
The senator then underscored the significance of Super Health Centers in bridging the gap between the government and its people, emphasizing its primary functions, including early disease detection and hospital decongestion, as integral to ensuring timely and effective healthcare services.
With the support of the Department of Health, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, Go helped secure sufficient funds in the 2022 and 2023 national budgets for the construction of more than 600 Super Health Centers across the country.
Aside from Caraga, Super Health Centers in the province were funded in Lupon, Manay, Mati City, Banging, Boston, Calapagan, Dahican, San Isidro, and Tarragona. Two more centers are funded in Cateel.
During the groundbreaking, the senator also provided grocery packs to some residents of the said town.
Meanwhile, he also highlighted other health initiatives, such as the continued operations of Malasakit Centers and the establishment of more Regional Specialty Centers.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Center was institutionalized under Republic Act 11463, which he principally authored and sponsored to provide convenient access to medical assistance programs of the government. There are currently 159 operational centers and, according to DOH, these centers have helped more than 10 million poor and indigent Filipinos nationwide.
Go encouraged individuals with health concerns to visit Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center in Mati City for assistance with their medical-related expenses.
He also brought attention to RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, for which he served as a principal sponsor and one of the authors in the Senate. The Regional Specialty Centers Act assumes an important role in the healthcare legislative priorities of the Marcos Administration, as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan for the years 2023 to 2028. This law shall create Regional Specialty Centers within pre-existing regional hospitals under the jurisdiction of DOH.
On the same day, Go inspected the town's activity center, which he supported the funding of as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance. He then also attended a farmers' forum and assisted 2,500 agricultural workers present.
The senator then visited Mati City where he inspected another Super Health Center and witnessed the turnover of motorboat engines to the local fisherfolk of Mati City.