The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), provided support to technical vocational scholars in Barangay Pulanglupa, Trento, Agusan del Sur on Thursday, August 31.
During the outreach effort held at Hillsview, Brgy. Pulang Lupa, Go’s team distributed shirts, food packs, and snacks to 25 scholars. Select recipients received watch, cellular phones, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
Meanwhile, TESDA distributed National Certificate 2 scholarships to the beneficiaries.
Earlier, Go filed SBN 2115, which aims to institutionalize a technical-vocational education and training and livelihood program for rehabilitated drug dependents. The bill seeks to provide skills training and enhance the employability of former drug dependents, allowing them to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities.
In a video message, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, emphasized the significance of prioritizing personal well-being by highlighting the Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Hospital in Prosperidad, which houses a Malasakit Center.
He noted that individuals with health concerns can seek government assistance to cover their hospital expenses through this center. The Malasakit Centers Act, principally authored and sponsored by Go, simplifies access to medical assistance programs from various government agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
“Nung unang panahon, marami sa mga kababayan natin ang kinakailangang pang lumabas ng ospital at pumila sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno para humingi ng tulong. Ubos na panahon nila, ubos pa ang pera nila sa pamasahe. Mangungutang at ibebenta pa niyan ang kalabaw para may maibayad sa naiwang balanse,” Go said.
”Ngayon, hindi na nila kailangang gawin ‘yan. Kung may billing kayo sa ospital, puntahan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center at tutulungan kayo nito,” he added.
To date, 158 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH.
Go also shared that he has been advocating for the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide, saying, “makatutulong po ito sa mga kababayan natin na ilapit po ang serbisyong medikal sa kanila. Ilalagay po ito sa mga strategic areas sa buong Pilipinas.”
Through the concerted efforts of lawmakers, adequate funding has been allocated for the establishment of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 more in 2023.
DOH, as the lead implementing agency, is responsible for identifying the optimal locations for the construction of these health centers. In Agusan del Sur, necessary funds have been allocated by Congress for the construction of Super Health Centers in Esperanza, Bayugan, Sibagat, Santa Josefa, and Trento.
Super Health Centers are medium versions of a polyclinic and an improved version of the rural health unit that offer a range of services, such as 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 center and telemedicine, which makes remote diagnosis and treatment of patients possible.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, played a crucial role in securing necessary funds for various projects, including the construction or concreting of local roads in Bayugan City, Bunawan, Esperanza, La Paz, San Luis and Veruela; construction of multipurpose buildings in Bayugan City and San Luis; construction of evacuation centers in Loreto and Talacogon; construction of riverbank protection structures for the Ihawan River in Loreto; improvement of the Adlayan Riverbank in San Francisco; installation of reinforced concrete pipe culvert with pavement widening in Trento; and purchase and installation of solar street lights in Esperanza.
Other major projects he supported are the construction of a new public market and slaughterhouse in Bunawan, development of the Sibagat public park, the acquisition of ambulances for the local governments of La Paz and San Luis, and acquisition of dump trucks for the local governments of San Francisco and San Luis.