On Saturday, September 16, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, as part of his efforts to bring government health services closer to Filipinos, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
In his speech, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reiterated his commitment to ensuring that government health services are readily available to all Filipinos, regardless of their location. He emphasized the importance of providing quality healthcare, especially in remote and underserved communities, and how these Super Health Centers are poised to address their basic health needs.
“Ipagpatuloy natin na ilapit ang serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap na walang matakbuhan kung hindi ang mga government hospitals. Para sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan, napakaimportante po nito dahil iyan po ang kanilang lalapitan po talaga, itong mga government hospitals natin. The more we should support it, the more na mag-invest po tayo sa ating healthcare system,” Go said.
“Huwag po natin silang pahirapan. Marami po sa mga kababayan natin sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Pilipinas na wala silang sariling health center. Kaya importante na mailapit natin ang serbisyong medikal mula gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito,” he stressed.
The Super Health Centers will offer a range of healthcare services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, 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, through which remote diagnosis and treatment of patients are made possible.
One of the key objectives of these Super Health Centers is to enhance the early detection of diseases. Go said that timely detection is a crucial factor in effective treatment and management and by providing accessible healthcare services in communities like Manolo Fortich, he believes that more lives can be saved through early diagnosis and intervention.
“Ang kagandahan nito early detection at magagamit ito sa pagkokonsulta and it will help decongest the hospital dahil pwede na pong gamutin dito. At ilalagay po ito sa mga strategic areas. Ilalagay nila sa isang barangay kung saan po’y makaka-access ‘yung mga kababayan natin. Pwede na pong gamutin dito — primary care, consultation, early detection — mas maganda po ‘yon para hindi na lumala ang sakit ng mga pasyente,” Go cited.
Go acknowledged the collaborative efforts of his fellow lawmakers, notably Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, a native of Bukidnon, along with the dedicated local officials, including Congressman Jose Manual Alba, Mayor Rogelio Quiño, and Vice Mayor Reynaldo Bagayas, Jr., among others, for ensuring that their constituents have access to quality health care.
The senator was instrumental in pushing for adequate funding to ensure that more Super Health Centers are established across the country. Some 307 Super Health Centers were funded in 2022 through Go’s initiative and with the help of DOH and fellow lawmakers, and 322 more Super Health Centers in 2023.
Aside from the Super Health Center in Manolo Fortich, Go supported the funding for the establishment of Super Health Centers in the city of Malaybalay, and the towns of Kadingilan, Pangantucan, Sumilao, Kitaotao, Kalilangan, Maramag, Quezon, San Fernando, and Talakag.
Go also extended his offer of assistance to those requiring medical support from the government. He highlighted that there is a Malasakit Center situated at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag, where individuals can seek assistance for their healthcare needs. There are also nearby centers at Northern Mindanao Medical Center and at J.R. Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program provides one-stop shops where all concerned agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office are brought together under one roof to ensure medical assistance programs are within reach of poor and indigent Filipinos.
Since the first Malasakit Center was established in 2018, there are now 159 centers that have assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, also supported various initiatives within the town to ensure the unhampered delivery of public services, including the construction of a public market in Barangay Maluko and a multipurpose building in Sankanan.
On the same day, Go personally checked the projects he supported the funding of in Damulog, in
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Jo Eurolfan De Leon
On the same day, Go personally checked the projects he supported the funding of in Damulog, including the construction of public market, an evacuation center, and a multipurpose building. He also inspected the streetlighting project and the road concretion which he was instrumental in pursuing for the community.
