On Saturday, 22 April, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Senator Christopher “Bong” Go personally inspected the site of a Super Health Center currently under construction in Saguday, Quirino.
Go’s visit is part of his ongoing efforts to bring government services closer to communities and promote accessible healthcare services in the grassroots, especially in rural areas.
The senator was accompanied by Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office Chair Junie Cua and local officials led by Governor Dakila “Dax” Cua, Congresswoman Midy Cua, Saguday Mayor Jerry Pagbilao, and Vice Mayor Ric Cadiente, among others.
“Inilapit po natin ‘yung serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan. Sa kakaikot ko po sa buong Pilipinas, napakarami pong munisipyo na walang sariling health center,” cited Go in his speech.
“‘Yung mga buntis, nanganganak na lang po sa tricycle, sa jeepney (dahil) sa sobrang layo ng mga ospital sa kanilang bayan. Kaya natutuwa po ako na isa po ang Saguday sa napili po na paglagyan po ng Super Health Center. Para po ito sa inyo, para po ito sa Pilipino. So gamitin n’yo po ito,” he expressed.
Super Health Centers are improved versions of polyclinics that offer basic 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.
As identified by the Department of Health, other locations for the Super Health Centers in the province are in the towns of Aglipay and Nagtipunan.
Through the concerted efforts of lawmakers, adequate funding has been allocated for the establishment of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 more in 2023.
“Natutuwa po ako na patapos na at pinalaki, pina-expand po ni Mayor (Pagbilao) ang inyong Super Health Center. At hindi lang po basta Super Health Center, talagang pinalaki para madagdagan pa po ang kapasidad ng inyong Super Health Center. Makakatulong po ito sa mga mahihirap nating mga kababayan,” Go remarked.
The senator also highlighted Malasakit Centers nationwide, which are one-stop shops for the government’s medical assistance programs. He is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act that institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. The 157 centers have so far assisted over seven million particularly poor and indigent patients across the country, according to the DOH.
Go then led a relief operation at Lakas Bayan Center in Saguday where he and his team gave away grocery packs, masks, vitamins, snacks, and shirts to 500 struggling residents. They also provided bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to help the residents with their daily necessities.
“Para po akong pingpong, lipad dito, lipad doon. Kahapon po sa Calbayog (City) sa Samar, tumulong (kami) sa mga nasunugan. Ngayon, nandito naman ako sa Luzon. Noong isang linggo po, sa Mindanao. Halos ganito po, Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon (tapos) balik na naman ako ng Visayas, balik na naman ng Mindanao. Para makatulong sa kapwa ko Pilipino,” shared Go.
“Iyan po ang pinangako ko sa inyo at hindi ko po matiis na nakaupo lang sa opisina habang ‘yung mga kababayan nating naghihirap ay nangangailangan ng tulong. Tutulong po ako sa abot ng aking makakaya. Bukas po ang aking tanggapan para sa inyong lahat,” he asserted.
“Basta kaya ng oras at katawan ko, pupuntahan ko kayo para makatulong sa abot ng aking makakaya, masolusyunan ang inyong mga problema, marinig ang inyong mga hinaing, at makapag-iwan ng ngiti sa oras ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” he assured.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also supported several road improvements, construction of a multipurpose building, installation of solar street lights, and acquisition of mini dump trucks in the town.
Earlier that day, Go was in the town of Cabarroguis where he joined the 6th Quirino Motorismo event, monitored the operations of the Malasakit Center at Quirino Province Medical Center, and led another relief operation for more indigents.