BONG GO DECLARED ADOPTED SON OF PANGANIBAN AS HE CONTINUES TO BRING GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE THROUGH INAUGURATION OF NEW SUPER HEALTH CENTER 

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, con-gratulated the local government and residents of Panganiban, Catanduanes for the successful inaugura-tion of the town’s first Super Health Center, a significant step toward providing accessible healthcare to lo-cal communities.

The event brought together local officials, including Mayor Cesar Robles and Vice Mayor Arvin “Arvs” Atencia, among others, all of whom voiced strong support for this milestone.

Senator Go emphasized the critical importance of the Super Health Center initiative in meeting the healthcare needs of Filipinos in underserved and remote areas.

“It has been my mission to champion the establishment of Super Health Centers across the country dahil ayaw ko pong nahihirapan ang ating mga kababayan. Ilapit natin ang serbisyong medikal sa Pilipino dahil health is wealth,” Go remarked.

He highlighted that the Super Health Centers are designed to make essential health services closer and more affordable for rural families, reducing the burden of long-distance travel and high expenses for medical care. “Ang Super Health Centers ay strategically located ito para yung mga residente ay hindi na kinakailangan pang bumyahe ng malayo para lang magpagamot,” he said.

The senator expressed his gratitude for the collaboration of local leaders and fellow lawmakers, which has ena-bled funding for over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide. The Department of Health (DOH), led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, is implementing the program and selecting strategic locations to maximize its impact. In Catanduanes, two Super Health Centers are funded.

On the same occasion, Senator Go was also declared an adopted son of Panganiban, under Resolution No. 151-24, in recognition of his dedication to serving the people and his “admirable career in public administration”. The local government also recognizes Go’s continuous support for healthcare and social services in the region.

Expressing his heartfelt gratitude for the honor, Go shared, “Malaking karangalan po para sa akin na mahirang ng inyong bayan bilang isang adopted son. Makakaasa po kayo na patuloy akong magsisikap na maglingkod at su-portahan ang Panganiban at buong Catanduanes.”

“Noong taong 2020, noong bagyong Rolly, pumunta si Senator Bong Go. Maraming binigay na proyekto sa atin. Ngayon naman tinamaan tayo ng bagyong Kristine, pumunta siya ulit dito (para tumulong)… Senator, salamat sa tulong niyo muli. At kami po ay nakakasiguro na ang aming suporta, andiyan ang suporta namin sa inyo,” Gover-nor Cua expressed during Go’s personal visit to Virac earlier that day.

In line with his commitment to holistic health support, Go’s team distributed grocery packs, snacks, and shirts to barangay health workers in attendance, underscoring their role as key partners in the community’s health ser-vices.

On the same day, Go made a personal visit to the Malasakit Center at Eastern Bicol Medical Center Hospital in Virac to check on its operations and ensure that it is effectively providing aid to residents. The senator engaged with staff and patients, reaffirming his commitment to making healthcare accessible and convenient for every-one, especially the financially disadvantaged.

Go’s Malasakit Centers program, institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, was established to address the financial difficulties many Filipinos face when accessing quality healthcare. To date, there are 166 Malasakit Centers nationwide, benefitting more than 15 million Filipinos in reducing their medical expenses. The program, the senator shared, stemmed from his vision of compassionate service to uplift every Filipino’s right to healthcare.

Senator Go, widely regarded as “Mr. Malasakit,” concluded with words of inspiration: “Mga kababayan, minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa, gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” he urged.

“Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, patuloy akong magseserbisyo sa inyo. Serbisyo ko ang magserbisyo, at ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Panginoon,” he ended, reaffirming his commitment to serve the Filipino people.

During his visit to Virac, Go and his Malasakit Team distributed essential items, including food packs, meals, shirts, masks, vitamins, fans, basketballs, and volleyballs to 1,500 beneficiaries. Some beneficiaries also re-ceived bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, and a watch. Meanwhile, Go, through the local government, gave each beneficiary 25 kilos of rice.