PASAY CITY -- Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go highlighted President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system of the country as he personally witnessed on Monday, February 21, the turnover of financial assistance from the Office of the President (OP) to Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) in Quezon City.
“I want to emphasize the need to invest in our healthcare system.... I am glad that we are taking the right steps so that we can be better prepared for any future health crisis that may come,” Go earlier said.
“Dapat patuloy nating palakasin ang ating healthcare capacity, magdagdag ng mga kama, magtatag ng mga dagdag na ospital at palakasin ang serbisyo na maaaring maibigay ng ating mga pampublikong ospital. Dahil sa totoo lang po, ang mga mahihirap nating mga kababayan ang pumupunta sa mga pampublikong ospital. Para po ito sa kanila. Basta kapakanan ng mahihirap, ipaglalaban po namin kayo,” he added.
The OP, in fulfillment of its obligation to ensure the health and well-being of Filipinos, allocated PhP65 million to POC for the latter’s acquisition of medical equipment that will further improve the quality of health services it can provide to its patients.
The financial assistance was sourced from the OP’s Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) and shall be used to acquire three types of Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) devices. Part of advanced robotics rehabilitation technology, HAL devices are designed to support the physical therapy of patients suffering from neurological conditions.
Led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the turnover ceremony was also attended by POC Medical Center Chief Dr. Jose Brittano Pujalte Jr. and OP Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration (DESFA) Rizalina Justol.
To ensure that the funds are fully liquidated and utilized effectively for their intended purpose, the OP-DESFA shall conduct a Financial and Physical Performance Evaluation. The POC, in turn, shall submit an audited report of disbursements and refund unutilized funds to the OP upon completion of the project.
After the ceremony, Go privately discussed with POC doctors his intent of helping amputees get prosthetic devices to help them overcome any physical, social, or emotional challenges they face in their daily lives.
“Naniniwala ako na hindi dapat maging hadlang ang kahit na ano mang kapansanan para magkaroon ng komportableng buhay. Kaya sa abot ng aking makakaya, nais ko makatulong sa ating mga amputated patients na mabigyan sila ulit ng pagasa upang makalakad ulit,” he expressed.
Go, for his part, highlighted the need to invest in the country’s healthcare system and ensure access to those who need help from the government especially for their medical concerns.
“Importante na ating binibigyang halaga ang mga hakbang tulad nito para sa ikabubuti ng mamamayang Pilipino lalo na sa sektor ng kalusugan dahil sa ganitong paraan ay nahihikayat natin ang isa’t isa na ipagpatuloy ang suporta sa mga ganitong klaseng inisyatibo para sa ikauunlad ng healthcare system ng bansa,” the senator earlier said.
He also acknowledged the hard work of medical frontliners who continue to make valuable contributions and sacrifices to safeguard the well-being of every Filipino patient especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would like to thank our doctors, nurses, caregivers, and frontliners who – despite the challenges that pandemic brings – continue to selflessly provide healthcare especially to those afflicted with cancer,” Go expressed.
As a firm advocate of quality healthcare for all Filipinos, Go primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act, which provides particularly poor and indigent patients convenient access to medical assistance programs from concerned agencies, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
There are currently 149 Malasakit Centers nationwide, including one at POC, that have assisted over three million Filipinos.
“Dati po, hihingi kayo ng tulong sa apat na ahensiya ng gobyerno. Lunes, pipila kayo sa hospital. Martes, pipila kayo sa PCSO. Miyerkules, pipila kayo sa DOH. Huwebes, DSWD. Biyernes, PhilHealth. Ubos ‘yung panahon ninyo sa kakapila para humingi ng tulong,” the senator noted.
“Sabi ko, bakit ba natin pinapahirapan ang mga Pilipino kung pera naman nila ‘yan. Kaya nung naging senador ako, itinulak ko ang Malasakit Centers Act. Target nito ay ‘zero balance’ para wala ng babayaran ang mga poor at indigent. Kaya naman itong Malasakit Center ay para po ‘yan sa inyong minamahal kong Pilipino,” he added.
Furthermore, the lawmaker had successfully pushed for the enactment of 24 local hospital bills and sponsored 15 other measures that aim to improve services in existing health facilities and establish new DOH hospitals across the country. (OSBG)
