Senator Bong Go lauded the Department of Health and the local government of Sumilao in Bukidnon for the successful groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in the town.
In his video message, Go, as the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, emphasized the importance of making basic health services available to all, regardless of their location or socio-economic status.
“Distance or lack of money should not be a hindrance for them to have access to healthcare needs.”
“Health is a primary need of our fellow citizens. Distance or lack of money should not be a hindrance for them to have access to healthcare needs,” the legislator said.
The Sumilao Super Health Center will offer a wide range of services, including database management, out-patient services, birthing, isolation, diagnostic services such as x-ray and ultrasound, pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit.
It also provides specialized services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center, and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients can be done.
“The Super Health Centers not only offer basic health services but also specialized services to ensure comprehensive quality healthcare for our fellow citizens,” the senator noted.
He then recognized the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers especially Senate President Migz Zubiri who is from Bukidnon, as well as all local officials in ensuring that affordable healthcare services are available to their constituents amid these trying times.
As we continue to face challenges brought by the pandemic, it is essential to strengthen our healthcare system and provide accessible and affordable healthcare services to everyone.”
“As we continue to face challenges brought by the pandemic, it is essential to strengthen our healthcare system and provide accessible and affordable healthcare services to everyone,” Go said.
“The Sumilao Super Health Center is a step towards achieving this goal, and we must continue to work towards a healthier and more resilient nation,” he added.
Go was instrumental in pushing for adequate funding to ensure that more Super Health Centers are established across the country.
Some 307 SHCs were funded in 2022 through his initiative and with the help of his fellow lawmakers, and 322 more SHCs in 2023.
Aside from the Super Health Center in Sumilao, he supported the funding for the establishment of Super Health Centers in the city of Malaybalay, and the towns of Kadingilan, Pangantucan, and Kitaotao in 2022.
This year, more Super Health Centers were funded for the towns of Kalilangan, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Quezon, San Fernando, and Talakag.
Continuing his remarks, Go likewise offered to help those in need of medical assistance from the government as he mentioned that there is a Malasakit Center located at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program provides for one-stop shops where all concerned agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office are brought together under one roof to ensure medical assistance programs are within reach of poor and indigent Filipinos.
The program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go primarily authored and sponsored.
Since the first Malasakit Center was established in 2018, there are now 156 centers that have assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH.
To foster infrastructure development and help boost economic growth, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has also supported various projects in the province of Bukidnon, such as the funding for the construction of an evacuation center, municipal building and local access road as well as an electrification and solar lights project in Damulog; and the construction of a slaughterhouse, multipurpose building and the Northern Bukidnon Agri-Industrial Economic Zone Road Network and Southern Bukidnon Agri-Industrial Economic Zone road network development projects in Don Carlos.
Moreover, he helped the province in the improvement of road links in Baungon, Libona and Talakag; access road leading to the Bukidnon Airport; farm-to-market and local roads in Cabanglasan, Kadingilan, Kibawe, Kitaotao, Lantapan, San Fernando and Talakag; and other road linkages throughout the province.
“Ipagpatuloy lang natin ang pagbibigay serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan lalo na po ang mga hopeless at mga helpless. This is truly a community effort, and I am proud to be a part of it,” Go concluded.
He joined the groundbreaking in Panantucan recently. Go also commended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Centers in Kitaotao town and Malaybalay City.
