Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues his efforts to bring public services closer to Filipinos especially the poor, the sick and the needy. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, he emphasized the necessity of ensuring that every Filipino has access to healthcare as well as assistance for vulnerable sectors.
On Wednesday, September 25, Go personally attended the inauguration ceremony of the new Super Health Center in Dasmariñas City, Cavite and assisted impoverished residents in the city in partnership with Mayor Jenny Austria-Barzaga.
“Kanina po marami ang nagpapasalamat sa akin dahil natulungan sila ng ating mga programa. Pero sa totoo lang po, ako po ang dapat na magpasalamat sa inyo dahil sa pagkakataon na inyong ibinigay sa akin upang makapag serbisyo sa inyo,” Go said.
“Ang maiaalay ko lang po sa inyo ay ang aking kasipagan sa pagtatrabaho dahil bisyo ko na po ang magserbisyo,” he added.
A total of 1,667 struggling individuals, including PWDs, Parents of SPED, Women, Solo Parents, and Senior Citizens gathered at the Dasmariñas Arena received additional support from Go, such as food packs, snacks, vitamins, masks, shirts, foldable fans, and basketballs and volleyballs. Some beneficiaries also received shoes, a mobile phone, bicycles, and a watch.
Being an adopted son of CALABARZON region, Go also partnered with the local government of Dasmariñas City led by Mayor Bargaza in providing financial support to the identified indigent sectors present.
Apart from supporting vulnerable sectors during his visit, Go also led the inauguration of one of his key advocacies for the community which is the establishment of its own Super Health Center. He emphasized the significance of building such healthcare facilities as part of his continued commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility across the nation.
“Sa mga itinayo ng Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad, lalo na sa rural areas. ‘Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” he said.
Go reiterated his commitment to support the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country considering how they can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing primary medical services closer to the grassroots. Super Health Centers can offer primary care, medical consultation, and early disease detection, further strengthening the healthcare sector at the community-level.
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including 17 in Cavite.
Meanwhile, in support of community health front liners, Go also gave grocery packs, snacks, shirts, and basketballs and volleyballs to 205 barangay health workers (BHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) present.
Responding to the earnest pleas of health workers, Go mentioned that he has been urging the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to act swiftly on releasing the long-overdue Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of qualified health workers.
Go also expressed gratitude to the local government for their diligent efforts in making the Super Health Center a reality. He specifically thanked Mayor Austria-Barzaga, Board Members Jun dela Cuesta, and Nickol Austria, and local councilors, among others.
Mayor Bargaza then expressed her deep gratitude to Go for his unwavering support to the city, particularly in health services and infrastructure projects.
“Gusto nating pasalamatan…wala tayo dito kung hindi po dahil sa kanya (Senator Go). Siya po ay kaibigan ng Dasmariñas. Hindi niya lang po bisyo ang magserbisyo, bisyo niya rin ang tumulong sa Dasmariñas,” Mayor Bargaza said.
“‘Yun po ang prayoridad niya na bigyan ng magandang kalusugan ang ating kapwa. ‘Yun po ang kanyang happiness, bukod po sa pagseserbisyo, ay ang pagtulong po sa kapwa,” she added.
Meanwhile, Go offered additional aid to individuals with medical needs and advised them to avail themselves of the assistance provided by nearby Malasakit Centers located at the Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital in Bacoor City and Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital in Trece Martires City.
Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops for medical assistance programs aimed at helping impoverished patients reduce their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
As of now, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The DOH reports that the Malasakit Centers program has already provided aid to nearly 12 million Filipinos.
Earlier, Go supported other projects in the city as the vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, including the concreting and improvement of Local Access Roads in Barangay San Miguel I & II, construction of Slope Protection along Imus River, Revetment East Side of Barangay Burol Main, acquisition of trucks, and ambulances, among others.
“Patuloy nating ilapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga nangangailangan nito. Bisyo ko po ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” underscored Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.
