“ILAPIT ANG HEALTHCARE SERVICES SA KOMUNIDAD” — BONG GO LAUDS GROUNDBREAKING OF NEW SUPER HEALTH CENTER IN CUENCA, BATANGAS

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, expressed his support during the groundbreaking ceremony of a new Super Health Center in Barangay Emmanuel in Cuenca, Batangas, on Thursday, December 19.

The initiative was made possible through the collaboration of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health (DOH), and the local government unit of Cuenca, led by Mayor Alexander Magpantay, with the goal of enhancing access to essential health services for his fellow Batangueños.

“Malaking bagay po ito na ilapit natin ‘yung serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayan. Nababanggit ko po palagi, the more we should invest sa ating healthcare system. Mas mabuting handa tayo parati para hindi tayo mabigla tulad ng dati lalo na nung panahon ng pandemya.”

The Super Health Center initiative aims to decongest hospitals by providing basic health services such as medical consultations and primary care closer to communities, especially in rural areas. It is also designed to facilitate early detection of illnesses and reduce travel costs for patients seeking treatment.

“Ang ikinaganda po ng Super Health Center, madi-decongest ang mga hospital… Pwede po diyan ‘yung primary care ng Universal Health Care, diyan na po ‘yung Konsulta ng PhilHealth dahil bawat Pilipino po ay miyembro po ng PhilHealth, hindi na kakailanganing bumyahe ng malayo para magpagamot,” said Go, a health reforms crusader.

With Go’s support and as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, funding has been allocated for over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, ensuring that communities across the Philippines will have better access to healthcare.

In Batangas, 18 Super Health Centers are funded, including the one in Cuenca, which is strategically located to serve nearby communities effectively.

Meanwhile, the senator’s Malasakit Team also distributed relief items, including snacks, shirts, basketballs, and volleyballs, to barangay health workers who were present during the event.

An adopted son of CALABARZON with familial roots in Batangas through his Tesoro side, Senator Go also highlighted the availability of Malasakit Centers at Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City and Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery for those needing further assistance. He reminded constituents to seek the services of these centers, established through Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he principally authored and sponsored.

According to Senator Go, “Ang Malasakit Center po ay isang one-stop shop na makakatulong sa ating mga indigent patients. Huwag po kayong mahihiyang lumapit kung kayo ay nangangailangan ng tulong medikal.”

Since their inception, the 166 Malasakit Centers nationwide have assisted over 15 million Filipinos, according to DOH data.

He concluded by saying, “Patuloy ang malasakit ngayong kapaskuhan at may you have a happy healthy new year. Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah.”