BONG GO HAILS ISABELA’S PROGRESS AS HE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has extended his support to several key projects in Isabela in a bid to enhance local infrastructure and boost economic growth. On Thursday, January 25, Go visited some of the sites to check on the progress and engage with the local community during the Bambanti Festival in Ilagan City.

One of the notable projects is the new building at the Mallig Public Market, partly funded through the efforts of Go, as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance. This development is expected to invigorate the local economy by providing a modernized commercial space for vendors and consumers.

During his visit, Go emphasized the importance of such infrastructure in uplifting the lives of Filipinos. He expressed, “Mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng maayos na pasilidad para sa ating mga kababayan. Ito ay magbibigay-daan sa mas magandang kalakalan at mas maginhawang pamumuhay para sa kanila.”

Adjacent to the public market, the construction of a bridge has also received support from Go. This bridge is crucial for the seamless movement of goods and people, especially for communities residing near the public market area.

Go then proceeded to the town of Echague for the groundbreaking of a Super Health Center. His team also inspected the concreting of a local road in Barangay Tagaran and also checked on a local road in Cauayan town which Go both supported.

“Sa pamamagitan ng maayos na kalsada, mas mapapabilis ang pag-unlad ng ating mga komunidad,” the senator pointed out.

Aside from infrastructure development, Go’s commitment to healthcare has been a cornerstone of his legislative agenda. He has been instrumental in pushing for laws and policies that strengthen the healthcare system in the country, including the Malasakit Centers Act, which aims to streamline access to medical and financial assistance provided by the government.

With 159 centers established throughout the country, the Malasakit Centers program has already assisted around ten million Filipinos, particularly poor patients with their hospital expenses.

The program was initiated by Go and was later institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which the senator principally authored and sponsored, to provide Filipinos more convenient access to medical assistance under one roof inside qualified public hospitals in accordance with the law.

In Isabela, residents may seek assistance from the Malasakit Centers at the Southern Isabela Medical Center in Santiago City and the Governor Faustino N. Dy, Sr. Memorial Hospital in Ilagan City.

Go also 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 government medical services closer to the grassroots.

He explained that Super Health Centers are designed to focus on primary care, consultation, and early detection, further strengthening the healthcare sector in the country, especially in grassroots communities.

“Patuloy po akong tutulong sa pagpaparami ng Super Health Centers sa bansa sa abot po ng aking makakaya,” said Go.

“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 added.

Through the collective efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the DOH for the construction of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022, 322 in 2023, and 132 in 2024. As the lead implementing agency, DOH identifies the strategic areas where these Super Health Centers will be established.

In Isabela, a total of 18 Super Health Centers are funded. He, on the same day, attended the inauguration of the Super Health Center in Mallig, and the groundbreaking of one in Echague.

Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and 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.

Furthermore, Go 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.

“It’s a multi-year plan of the government na maglalagay po ng mga heart care center, neonatal, ortho, brains, spine, kidney, lung, at iba pang specialized medical services sa iba’t-ibang DOH regional hospitals para hindi na nila kailangang magbiyahe ng Metro Manila,” he explained.

Aside from these projects, Go also supported the construction of new barracks at Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz in Echague; concreting of the local roads in Barangays Dangan and Santor and a bridge in Reina Mercedes; and concreting of the Gud-Villaflor portion of the access road in San Isidro. The senator also helped secure the funding for concreting, upgrading and rehabilitation of various roads throughout the province; construction of multipurpose buildings in Cauayan, Naguilian, Quezon, San Pablo, and Ilagan City; construction of bridges in Benito Soliven, Jones, Ramon, San Guillermo, San Mariano, and Ilagan City; construction of a river wall and street lights in Aurora; and installation of solar street lights in San Manuel.

Before his visit to Isabela, Go was invited to the 2024 Kalinga Provincial Athletic Meet held in Rizal, Kalinga. He then inspected the Bono-Bongat Road in Rizal, an infrastructure project he had earlier supported.