Senator Christopher “Bong” Go attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Super Health Center in Naga City, Camarines Sur on Saturday, June 3. In his speech, Go highlighted pressing need to establish additional health facilities across the country to address the ever-increasing medical needs of Filipinos.

The said groundbreaking was also witnessed by local officials, led by Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion and acting Vice Mayor Jess Albeus, among others.

“Ang Super Health Center po is a medium type of a polyclinic, mas maliit sa ospital, mas malaki po sa rural health unit at pwede pa po itong i-expand ng LGU. Halimbawa, plano ni Mayor (Legacion) na lagyan ng dialysis machine, pwede n’ya itong lagyan at iba pang medical services,” Go explained in an ambush interview after the event.

“At isa po ito sa pamamaraan na ilapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan. Ang mga buntis, hindi na kailangang pumunta sa ospital. Pagpapabakuna, pwede na rin po diyan sa Super Health Center at ang malaking tulong nito, ang ayaw magpabakuna laban sa tigdas, measles, mas mailalapit natin sa kanila, kasi ‘yung iba ayaw kasi napakalayo ng mga health facilities,” he cited.

Continuing his message, Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, stressed that the construction of the Super Health Center in Naga City is just the beginning and that more initiatives must be undertaken to bridge the healthcare gap in the country.

The said health facility shall offer wide-range of services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and 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, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Continuing his message, Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, stressed that the construction of the Super Health Center in Naga City is just the beginning and that more initiatives must be undertaken to bridge the healthcare gap in the country.

The said health facility shall offer wide-range of services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and 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, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. The Department of Health, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.

In Camarines Sur alone, 18 Super Health Centers have been funded in 2022 and 2023 as identified by DOH.

“Napansin ko po sa kakaikot ko po sa buong Pilipinas, may mga 4th class, 5th class, 6th class municipalities nating mga munisipyo na wala pong kakayahan na magpatayo ng sariling Super Health Center. Napansin ko ang mga buntis noon, nanganganak sa tricycle, sa jeepney dahil napakalayo ng mga ospital. Ngayon, pwede na silang manganak dito. Iyan po ang Super Health Center, isang pamamaraan na ilapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan,” Go highlighted.

In a bid to accelerate the economic growth and development of the country, Senator Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has been a steadfast advocate for the expansion and continuation of local infrastructure projects. That day, he personally inspected the Almeda-Mabolo bypass road in the city which he initiated and supported the funding of.

The said project started during former president Rodrigo Duterte's term and Go expressed his confidence that the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be able to improve it further through the Build Better More program, which aims to further boost the country's infrastructure landscape, creating jobs, enhancing connectivity, and stimulating economic progress nationwide.

In line with his advocacy to provide greater access to quality healthcare, Go also supported the acquisition of medical equipment and the completion of two storeys within the General Wards Building, both in Bicol Medical Center.

During his visit, he also provided assistance to 1,500 struggling residents at Jesse Robredo Coliseum. The residents received grocery packs, masks, vitamins, snacks and shirts while some of them received bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial assistance.

The senator took the opportunity to encourage the public to seek the assistance, if needed, of the Malasakit Center at the Bicol Medical Center or the one at Bicol Region General Hospital and Geriatric Medical Center in Cabusao.

A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop designed to help particularly poor and indigent patients with their medical-related expenses by bringing together concerned agencies that offer medical assistance programs, such as the DSWD, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Binisita ko po ang inyong Malasakit Center ngayong araw na ito. DOH-retained hospital po itong sa Naga City at mayroon din pong isa sa Cabusao, mayroon rin pong isang Malasakit Center doon,” Go mentioned.

“Ang Malasakit Center po is a one-stop shop, batas na po ‘yan na isinulong ko noon, pinirmahan ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte. Nasa loob na po ng ospital ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno, PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD na tutulong po sa hospital billing ng ating mga kababayan. Para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center, para po ‘yan sa Pilipino,” he explained.

Earlier that day, Go also attended the 1st Bicol Social Media Summit.

Photo and Press Release: Office of Senator Bong Go