BONG GO CONTINUES TO HELP STRENGTHEN COUNTRY’S HEALTH SECTOR DURING GROUNDBREAKING OF SUPER HEALTH CENTER IN MARGOSATUBIG, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, commended the Department of Health and the local government of Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur for the successful groundbreaking of its Super Health Center on Friday, November 17.

In a video message, Go stressed the importance of strengthening the country’s health system, especially after lessons learned from the adverse effects of the global pandemic.

“Nakita naman natin ang naging epekto ng pandemya sa ating bansa. Kaya mas mabuting maging handa tayo… The more that we need to invest in our healthcare system,” he said.

The Super Health Center will serve as a hub for various primary healthcare services, including database management, out-patient, dental, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit.

Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation centers; and telemedicine. The centers can also be used as satellite vaccination sites for Filipinos who live far from the urban centers.

“It’s a medium type of a polyclinic, para mailapit po natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi na nila kailangan mag biyahe pa ng ospital, ‘yung manganganak, mga dental, laboratory, x-ray, pwede na pong gawin dito ‘yung primary care, ‘yung konsulta. Malaking bagay po ito na hindi na nila kailangan magbiyahe pa sa mga ospital dahil dito na po sila magpapa-check up at magpapakonsulta at mayroon naman pong Konsulta package ang ating PhilHealth,” explained Go.

Through the collective efforts of Go, the Department of Health (DOH), and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for the establishment of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023.

“These will help decongest the hospitals. Pwede na pong gamutin dito — primary care, consultation, early detection of diseases — mas maganda po ‘yon para hindi na lumala ang sakit ng mga pasyente,” Go cited.

Meanwhile, Go’s team provided food packs, vitamins, and shirts to some indigents in the town.

In line with his commitment to safeguard the well-being of Filipinos, Go also said that residents may avail of medical assistance from the Malasakit Centers located at Margosatubig Regional Hospital and Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center in Pagadian City.

Republic Act No 11463 was principally authored and sponsored by Go. There are now 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide, and each Malasakit Center acts as a one-stop shop for medical assistance programs. Under the center, relevant agencies are housed under one roof to help reduce patients’ hospital expenses to the lowest possible amount.

Go also cited the enactment of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals. It stands as a testament to the commitment of the government to uplift the nation’s health infrastructure and bring actual medical services closer to the Filipino people.

Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Sominot, Tigbao, and Vincenzo Sagun. He also supported the construction of a new two-story public market in San Pablo.

Aside from these projects, Go supported road concreting projects in Sominot, Tabina, and Tambulig. He also supported the construction of an evacuation center in Tigbao. In Tukuran, he supported the construction of the NRJ Camanga-Tabuan-Man-Ilan-Manlayag-NRJ Navalan Road, and the installation of solar streetlights.