Senator Christopher "Bong" Go commended the local government of Davao City, including Congressman Vincent Garcia, Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte and Councilor Richlyn "Che-Che" Justol-Baguilod, among others, for the completion and launch of a multipurpose building in Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District, on Friday, 1 December.
Go, who has supported the said project as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, is a strong advocate of local infrastructure development, and has supported numerous projects in Davao City.
Aside from the project mentioned, the senator also advocated for the construction of multipurpose buildings and local roads, rehabilitation of water systems, drainage systems and flood control structures in different barangays throughout the city, the construction of a 300-bed capacity infectious diseases building at the Southern Philippines Medical Center and the acquisition of ambulances, among others.
Go stressed the importance of infrastructure development for economic recovery. He said that infrastructure projects create jobs, improve accessibility and encourage investment.
"These projects are essential for lifting people out of poverty and for building a better future for all Filipinos," he added.
Go likewise said that he is committed to helping Davao City grow and develop. He has pledged to continue to support infrastructure projects and other initiatives that will benefit the city's residents.
"I am committed to helping Davao City reach its full potential. I will continue to work hard to bring more opportunities to the city and to improve the lives of its residents. Magseserbisyo ako sa abot ng aking makakaya," he added.
During the event at the Barangay Malabog gymnasium, Go's team also provided relief items, such as grocery packs, shirts and balls for basketball and volleyball to 200 struggling Davoaeños. They also gave away a pair of shoes, a mobile phone and a watch to select recipients.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has been actively championing initiatives to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality in the city.
One of the significant facets of Go's vision for a healthier Davao City is his support for Super Health Centers and Regional Specialty Centers. Recognizing the importance of accessible healthcare facilities, he has advocated for establishing and enhancing these centers, ensuring that residents have easy access to comprehensive medical services.
Super Health Centers shall provide convenient access to basic healthcare delivery, offering a wide range of medical services to communities. These Super Health Centers provide services such as database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, diagnostic services (including laboratory, X-ray, and ultrasound), pharmacies, and ambulatory surgical units.
Additional services include eye, ear, nose, and throat care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, as well as telemedicine for remote diagnosis and treatment.
Go also highlighted Republic Act 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate. The Regional Specialty Centers Act plays a pivotal role in the healthcare legislative agenda of the Marcos administration, as detailed in the Philippine Development Plan 2023 to 2028. The law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing Department of Health (DOH) regional hospitals.
There are specialty centers inside SPMC, which include cardiovascular care, lung care, neonatal care, trauma care, toxicology, cancer care, eye care and dermatology care. It will also soon provide a renal care and transplant center, brain and spine care, orthopedic center, physical rehabilitation medicine, mental health, burn care, infectious disease and tropical medicine, and geriatric care.
Lastly, Go mentioned the continuing operations of Malasakit Centers, which he initiated in 2018. He cited that there is one operational center inside SPMC, which Davaoeños can visit if they need assistance with any medical-related expenses.
With a total of 159 centers established nationwide, the Malasakit Centers program has already provided aid to around ten million indigent patients, according to DOH. This initiative was institutionalized under RA 11463, a legislative measure that Go principally authored and sponsored.
During the previous day, Go's team assisted fire victims in the city.