Following the inspection of a Super Health Center in the town, Senator Bong Go and his team, on Wednesday, 8 February, provided assistance to fire victims and struggling residents in Imus, Cavite.
Held at the Imus Sports Complex, Go’s team distributed food packs, vitamins, masks, and meals to a total of 500 indigent residents and 85 families victimized by a fire incident. Select beneficiaries also received bicycles, cellular phones, pairs of shoes, balls for basketball and volleyball, shirts, watches, and bags.
Personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided the residents with financial assistance as part of a whole-of-government effort to assist Filipinos in crisis situations. Representatives from the National Housing Authority also conducted an assessment to determine those who are eligible for housing assistance under their Emergency Housing Assistance Program.
In line with his commitment to protecting the well-being of Filipinos, Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also offered to help those in need of medical care. He also noted how the country’s healthcare system struggled due to the global health crisis.
“The more na dapat natin i-improve ang atin healthcare system dahil hindi natin alam kung ito na ba ang huling pandemya na darating sa buhay natin,” he said.
Go then reiterated his support for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s call to establish specialty centers outside Metro Manila. He added that the creation of these specialty health facilities is one of the 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.
Furthermore, the senator informed the beneficiaries that there are Malasakit Centers at Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital in Bacoor City and General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital in Trece Martires City where they may conveniently access the government’s medical assistance programs.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program establishes one-stop shops in all Department of Health-run hospitals, and in the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, to ensure that medical assistance programs are within the reach of particularly poor and indigent patients. To date, there are 154 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
The Malasakit Center program will celebrate its fifth year anniversary this month.
Go also underscored the need to improve public healthcare services to ensure that more disadvantaged Filipinos will receive the medical attention they need, especially those in rural areas.
In this regard, the senator, as an adopted son of CALABARZON, vowed to support the establishment of more Super Health Centers in the region and the whole country.