Optimistic with the new year ahead, Senator Bong Go reminded Filipinos to uphold the spirit of bayanihan amid crisis situations as he continues to push for initiatives that are all aimed to protect and promote the welfare of Filipinos.
Go reiterated his commitment to support programs and measures, such as Super Health Centers, Department of Disaster Resilience, and mandatory evacuation centers.
The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography maintained that he will continue to support the establishment of Super Health Centers in strategic locations where basic health services are not easily accessible, particularly in rural areas.
Previously, the legislator shared that the national government has allocated appropriate funds to be able to construct 307 Super Health Centers across the country in 2022.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker noted that he successfully pushed for additional funds in the 2023 health budget to ensure additional Super Health Centers are continuously constructed.
The Super Health Center is an improved version of the rural health unit. It offers health 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.
“Ngayong 2023, marami rin pong itatayong mga Super Health Centers, including dito sa Bulacan, about eight na Super Health Center.”
“As Chairman po ng Committee on Health sa Senado, ang priority ko, noong 2022 ‘yung mga Super Health Centers natin. Ngayong 2023, marami rin pong itatayong mga Super Health Centers, including dito sa Bulacan, about eight na Super Health Center na ilalagay po dito sa Bulacan at noong nakaraang taon naman 2022 ay pito,” the senator cited.
“Ang Super Health Center po is a medium type of a polyclinic, mas malaki lang po sa rural health clinic, mas maliit sa ospital. Pwede pong manganak, dental services, mga laboratory services po. Emergency cases para kung kailangan manganak ng mga buntis hindi na kailangang itakbo sa malalayong ospital. Dito na po sa mga Super Health Centers,” he explained.
Meanwhile, citing how natural disasters and calamities are becoming more common and worse because of climate change and the country’s location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Go emphasized that there is a need to improve the country’s approach toward resiliency and adaptability to these recurring natural events.
He reintroduced his proposed Department of Disaster Resilience Act in the 19th Congress. Senate Bill No. 188 seeks to create an empowered, highly specialized and responsive DDR that will provide clear unity of command and will be primarily responsible for ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities.
Currently, government agencies dealing with disaster risk reduction and management are scattered among several departments and offices and the current lead National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council merely acts as a coordinating body.
“‘Yung Department of Disaster Resilience po, a cabinet secretary-level.”
“‘Yung Department of Disaster Resilience po, a cabinet secretary-level kung saan mayroong isang in-charge na secretary sa departamentong ‘yan kung maipapasa po. Na bago pa dumating ang bagyo (at) pagbaha, preposition of goods, coordination with LGUs (at) ilikas ang mga kababayan natin sa ligtas na lugar. And, of course, pag-alis ng bagyo, restoration of normalcy, rehabilitation efforts,” explained Go.
He also renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 193 or the proposed Mandatory Evacuation Center Act which aims to ensure that disaster victims will have temporary shelters that will guarantee their safety and welfare while they recover and rebuild their lives.
The said bill will mandate the establishment of safe and clean mandatory evacuation centers in every city, municipality and province.
The proposed measure sets minimum requirements for every evacuation center, such as its location, amenities and operation, among others.
“At isa pang nai-file ko rin po Mandatory Evacuation Center, maayos na evacuation center sa mga lugar po halimbawa, tamaan sila ng mga bagyo o sunog, mayroon silang maayos na evacuation center na hindi po maiistorbo ang mga eskwelahan tuwing mayroong mga disaster na mangyayari,” Go cited.
He previously remarked that he will remain dedicated to file and support more measures to provide a more comfortable life for all Filipinos, saying, “Andirito lang po ako na magseserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan, sa abot po ng aking makakaya. Makakaasa kayo na ibabalik ko sa inyo ang serbisyo na dapat ninyong makuha mula sa gobyernong palaging nagmamalasakit sa inyo.”
