IMPROVING SERVICES AT COMMUNITY-LEVEL: BONG GO JOINS SUPER HEALTH CENTER GROUNDBREAKING IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY; HELPS FIRE VICTIMS REBUILD

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Super Health Center in Barangay Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, on Saturday, November 16.

Go emphasized the essential role of Super Health Centers in making government services more accessible to the grassroots and enhancing the quality of healthcare at the community level.

He explained that the primary goal of these centers is to bridge the gap between the government and communities, particularly in remote and underserved areas. From early disease detection, medical consultations, and primary care services, Super Health Centers are designed to alleviate the burden on hospitals and ensure healthcare is more readily available to those in need within their localities.

“Pwede na po rito ang check-up, Konsulta package ng PhilHealth kasi lahat naman ng Pilipino ay miyembro ng PhilHealth. Dito na ang primary care mula sa Universal Health Care, dito na ang early disease detection para hindi lumala ‘yung sakit,” said Go.

“Madi-decongest ang hospital dahil dito na kayo pwede magpagamot at pati rin manganak. Dental, laboratory, x-ray, ultrasound dito na po. At kung gusto ni mayor, sa susunod pagnatapos ito ay pwede lagyan ng pang-dialysis,” the senator explained further.

During his speech, Go urged the residents of Cagayan de Oro City to take full advantage of the new facility once completed.

“Patuloy nating ilapit ang serbisyo medikal mula sa gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito lalo na sa mga mahihirap at mga walang ibang malalapitan. Tandaan natin na ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.

The establishment of this center in Cagayan de Oro City is part of a broader initiative, with more than 700 Super Health Centers funded across the country, including six in the city. These efforts of Go are in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers.

Go acknowledged several officials who supported the project, including Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, former Congressman Maximo Rodriguez, Mayor Klarex Uy, Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez, Barangay Captains Jan Lim and Joaquin Uy, DOH Regional Director Sulpicio Legaspi, among others.

Meanwhile, Go and his Malasakit Team also provided grocery packs to the barangay health workers present and snacks to the children. Selected recipients also received shirts, basketballs, volleyballs, and other tokens.

During his visit, Go partnered with concerned agencies and the local government to extend additional assistance to fire victims in the city, helping them rebuild and recover.

Held at the barangay gym of Barangay Puntod, Go’s team provided rice packs, snacks, shirts, vitamins, and balls for basketball and volleyball to 116 affected families. Select recipients also received a pair of shoes, a mobile phone, a watch, and a bicycle.

“Huwag kayong mag-alala. Ang mga gamit ay nabibili at ang pera kikitain ulit, pero ang buhay hindi nabibili. A lost life is a lost life forever. Isang buhay lang ito, kaya dapat natin ingatan at pangalagaan,” Go said.

Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority (NHA) provided emergency housing assistance to qualified recipients to help disaster victims rebuild their homes.

“Isinulong natin na mabigyan sila ng National Housing Authority ng ayuda pambili ng housing materials tulad ng pako, yero, at iba pa, upang maisaayos muli ang kanilang mga tirahan. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa NHA para sa programa nila upang masigurong makabangon at makapagpatayo muli ang ating mga kababayang biktima ng sakuna,” Go highlighted.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the senator offered further aid to those needing medical assistance, citing Malasakit Centers in Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) and J.R. Borja General Hospital in the city. Go and his team visited these Malasakit Centers on the same day to provide meals to patients and support to hospital staff while inspecting its continuing operations in accordance with the law.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. Currently, 166 Malasakit Centers operate nationwide, ready to assist patients with medical expenses, and have already aided approximately 15 million Filipinos, according to data from the Department of Health.

As Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go earlier supported several initiatives in the city aimed at community progress. These include drainage systems and flood control structures, ambulance units, fire trucks and dump trucks, and building a three-story multipurpose facility.

Other projects he supported in the province include flood control initiatives in Magsaysay, Medina, and Gingoog City; multipurpose buildings in Initao, Magsaysay, and Gingoog City; rehabilitation of local roads in Baliangao, Balingasag, Balingoan, Initao, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Libertad, Lugait, Magsaysay, Manticao, and El Salvador City; and construction of water systems in Balingasag and Jasaan.

“Naniniwala ako na kung maganda ang hangarin mo para sa ibang tao, poprotektahan ka ng Panginoon… Hindi ako takot mamatay… isang karangalan po na mamatay habang naglilingkod sa ating kababayan,” Go underscored.

“Patuloy po akong magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Diyos, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” he concluded.