Senator Bong Go hailed the groundbreaking of the Tarlac City General Hospital in Barangay Binauganan, Tarlac City, in the province of Tarlac.
The city celebrated its 25th Charter Anniversary last April 19.
As vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go was among those who helped push for the construction of the hospital to benefit the residents of Tarlac City and its neighboring areas.
In his video message, the legislator highlighted the importance of investing in healthcare infrastructures to improve the overall health and well-being of the Filipino people.
“Access to quality healthcare is a basic human right that every Filipino should be entitled to,” the senator said.
“I am committed to supporting initiatives that will improve our healthcare system and make it more accessible to those who need it the most.”
“That is why I am committed to supporting initiatives that will improve our healthcare system and make it more accessible to those who need it the most,” Go added.
The event was a significant milestone for the people of Tarlac City, as it marked the beginning of the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital that will provide essential healthcare services to the community.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, he has been instrumental in supporting various healthcare programs throughout the country.
Go has consistently pushed for the allocation of sufficient funds for health services and advocated for initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare services for Filipinos, especially those living in rural and underserved areas. These include the establishment of Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers, and specialty centers.
Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.
In Tarlac, a Malasakit Center is located at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital in Tarlac City.
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.
To date, 157 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH.
“Sa mga pasyente, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ‘to sa inyo.”
“Sa mga pasyente, lapitan nyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ‘to sa inyo. Kung may hospital bill kayo, nandiyan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para mabayaran ito,” he said.
Meanwhile, Go is also pushing for the establishment of more Super Health Centers in strategic areas nationwide which can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing government medical services closer to the grassroots.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.
In Tarlac province, necessary funds have been allocated by Congress last year for the DOH to construct Super Health Centers in the towns of Gerona, La Paz, Paniqui, Victoria, Mayantoc, and San Jose.
More Super Health Centers were funded this year in Tarlac City and in the towns of Camiling, Capas, Concepcion, Moncada, San Clemente, San Manuel, and Santa Ignacia.
He also reiterated his support for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s call to establish specialty centers in key regions outside Metro Manila. He added that the creation of these specialty health facilities is one of the likely optimal solutions to address the gaps in healthcare across the country.
The establishment of specialty centers is among the health-related legislative agenda contained in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 signed by Marcos.
Ending his message, Go expressed his gratitude to the people of Tarlac City for their unwavering support. He pledged to continue working hard for Filipinos and the entire country, and to prioritize initiatives that will improve their lives.
He also acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the city government led by Mayor Cristy Angeles as well as the provincial government led by Gov. Susan Yap in bringing public services closer to their constituents.
Aside from the Tarlac City hospital, Go also supported the construction or improvement of roads in Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Pura, San Jose, Victoria and Tarlac City; improvement of the flood control structures along the Moriones River in Tarlac City; and construction of multipurpose buildings in San Manuel and Victoria, among others.
