Senator Bong Go lauded the groundbreaking ceremony for the Super Health Center and the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center (ZNMC)-Surgery Complex Building both located in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go emphasized the importance of bringing medical services closer to the people, particularly the less fortunate and those living in far-flung communities.
“Mahalaga na maipakita natin ang pagmamalasakit sa bawat isa sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng tamang serbisyo lalo na pagdating sa kalusugan,” the legislator said.
“Kailangan nating magtrabaho upang matiyak na magiging mas malapit at mas accessible ang serbisyong medikal sa bawat bahagi ng ating bansa.”
“Ang bawat Pilipino ay may karapatan sa tamang kalusugan at pangangalaga. Kailangan nating magtrabaho upang matiyak na magiging mas malapit at mas accessible ang serbisyong medikal sa bawat bahagi ng ating bansa,” the lawmaker added.
“Kaya tayong nasa gobyerno, sikapin natin na ilapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga tao lalo na sa mahihirap at pinaka-nangangailangan,” the senator stressed.
The Super Health Center in Dipolog City is set to provide basic health services such as database management, out-patient services, birthing facilities, isolation facilities, diagnostic (laboratory, x-ray, and ultrasound) services, pharmacy services, and an ambulatory surgical unit.
The center will also offer specialized services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine services, which allow remote diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Aside from the Super Health Center in Dipolog City, Go supported the funding for the establishment of Super Health Centers in Dapitan City, as well as in the town of Labason.
This year, several new Super Health Centers are set to be established in the towns of Kalawit, Sindangan, and Sirawai. Additionally, two more centers are planned to be constructed in other areas in Zamboanga Del Norte.
Through his efforts as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and with the support of his fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program for the construction of some 307 Super Health Centers.
Go was likewise successful in pushing for additional funds under the 2023 budget to support the construction of 322 SHCs in other parts of the country.
“Napansin ko noon, sa napakalayong lugar, walang access sa ospital yung mga buntis at manganganak na lang sa jeep at tricycle sa layo ng biyahe; nanganganak na lang po dyan sa tabi-tabi. Kaya ngayon po magkakaroon na po ng Super Health Center sa kanilang komunidad. Para ito sa mga kababayan natin sa malalayong lugar, makakatulong po ito lalo na sa mga mahihirap,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center-Surgery Complex Building is another significant project for the province. Go likewise played a vital role in securing the funding for the construction of the building.
The Surgery Complex Building is expected to enhance the medical services available in the region, providing modern and efficient facilities for medical professionals to deliver quality healthcare services. It will also help address the lack of medical facilities in the area, which has been a significant concern for the locals.
“Nasa layunin natin na masiguro na ang bawat Pilipino ay may access sa mga pangangailangan sa kalusugan.”
“Sa pamamagitan ng mga proyektong ito, makakapaghatid tayo ng dekalidad na serbisyong medikal para sa mga Pilipino, lalo na sa mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Nasa layunin natin na masiguro na ang bawat Pilipino ay may access sa mga pangangailangan sa kalusugan,” Go said.
In the meantime, he offered additional assistance to those in need of medical care. Go advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center at the ZNMC in Dipolog City or at the Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which aims to reduce the hospital bills of poor and indigent patients to the lowest amount possible. It brings together the national agencies which offer medical assistance, namely, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored. The program has assisted more than seven million patients nationwide since its launch in 2018.
“Natutuwa ako na mayroon na tayong 155 na Malasakit Centers sa buong bansa. Hindi pumipili ang Malasakit Center ng tutulungan. Binabalik lang ang pera niyo sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng maayos at maaasahang serbisyo. Kaya sa mga poor at indigent patients diyan, puntahan niyo na lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para talaga sa inyo ito,” Go stressed.
Aside from these projects, he has likewise supported numerous initiatives to promote the development of the province, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings in Dapitan City, Jose Dalman, Mutia, President Manuel A. Roxas, Salug, Siocon, and Sindangan; acquisition of ambulance units for Mutia and trucks for Katipunan and Mutia; and rehabilitation of roads in Dapitan City, Godod, Jose Dalman, Liloy, Kalawit Labason, La Libertad, Sergio Osmeña and Salug.
