PASAY CITY -- On Thursday, February 10, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, together with other government and hospital officials, personally witnessed the ceremonial turnover of financial assistance from the Office of the President (OP) to the Rizal Medical Center (RMC) in Pasig City for the hospital’s acquisition of medical equipment and devices.

The assistance, which amounts to PhP111 million, will be used for the purchase of a venovenous bypass machine, ultrasonic cavitational dissector for liver, spyglass endoscopic camera, an endoscopy and laparoscopic tower, irreversible electroporation machine, and a fluorescence spectrophotometer.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Medical Center Chief Dr. Maria Rica Lumague represented the OP and the RMC, respectively, during the event. Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration Rizalina Justol was also present to witness the turnover.

Sourced from OP's Socio-Civic Projects Fund, the assistance was given pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement between OP and RMC dated August 3, 2021. This is also in furtherance of the constitutionally-mandated obligation of the State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.

Consistent with the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, the acquisition of the medical equipment also seeks to address the rising cost of healthcare in the country and prevent the loss of lives due to the lack of access to adequate hospital care, prescription drugs, and medical supplies and devices vital in restoring and maintaining health.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration is tasked to conduct a Financial and Physical Performance Evaluation of the utilization of the funds to ensure that projects are properly implemented, and funds are fully liquidated, documented and effectively utilized for the intended purpose.

The RMC will also submit an audited report of disbursements covering all the expenses incurred and refund any excess funds to the OP upon completion of the project.

Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go has been consistent in pushing for measures that will improve healthcare quality and access nationwide. Among these include 15 local hospital bills sponsored by the senator to improve existing or establish new Department of Health hospitals across the country. Said bills were approved on the third and final reading in the Senate on January 31.

On the same day, Senate Bill No. 2421 or the proposed COVID-19 Benefits and Allowances for Health Workers Act of 2021 was also approved by the Senate on the third reading. The measure, which was authored and co-sponsored by Go, seeks to grant healthcare workers financial support in recognition of their extraordinary contributions and sacrifices during the pandemic.

“Ako naman, patuloy po ang aking serbisyo sa inyo. Wala na akong hinihiling pang iba dahil ibinigay na ng Diyos sa akin ang pagkakataon na manilbihan sa bayan,” said Go.

“Makakaasa kayo na ibabalik ko sa inyo ang serbisyo na dapat ninyong makuha mula sa gobyernong palaging nagmamalasakit sa inyo,” he added. (OSBG)