The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, in coordination with the local government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, extended assistance to dialysis patients in Balanga City, Bataan on Wednesday, April 12.
In a video message, Go, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reiterated his support for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s call to establish specialty centers outside Metro Manila. He added that the creation of these specialty health facilities is one of the likely optimal solutions to address the gaps in healthcare across the country.
“‘Yung mga specialty centers, priority rin po ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos para ‘yung may mga heart problems, halimbawa, ay ma-operahan po sa mga probinsya. ‘Yan po ang ating layunin na ma-improve pa ang ating healthcare system sa buong bansa,” he said.
The establishment of specialty centers is among the health-related legislative agenda contained in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 signed by Marcos.
Held at the Bunker Building Capitol Compound in Balanga City, Go’s team distributed masks, vitamins, and snacks to 100 dialysis patients. They also gave away cellular phones, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
In addition, staff from the DSWD provided the patients with financial aid through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Continuing his message, Go offered additional help to the residents in need of medical attention. He likewise encouraged them to seek the services of the Malasakit Centers located at Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga City and at Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital.
Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, was principally authored and sponsored by Go. The primary aim of the Act is to provide particularly poor and indigent patients more convenient access to the medical assistance programs by concerned agencies.
To date, there are 157 operational centers that have assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to Department of Health.
Go also initiated and supported the construction of hundreds of Super Health Centers nationwide. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 SHCs in 2023.
DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where SHCs will be constructed. In the province of Bataan, necessary funds have been allocated for the DOH to construct Super Health Centers in Dinalupihan, Bagac, Hermosa, Morong, Orani, Samal, and Mariveles.
Services offered in Super Health Centers are database management, out-patient, 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 center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
The senator likewise supported several projects in the province, including the construction of a drainage canal in Abucay and Dinalupihan; the construction of Orani District Hospital with 150-bed capacity; construction of multipurpose buildings in Bagac, Balanga City, Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Limay, Orion and Pilar; acquisition of ambulance units in Pilar and Samal; and construction of a slaughterhouse in Hermosa.