Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues to bring government services closer to the people while pushing for legislative measures geared towards promoting their welfare as he attended this year’s Rotary Concerns Forum (ROTACON) on Saturday, February 11, at the Acacia Hotel in Davao City.
“Ang trabaho po namin bilang senador ay legislation, constituency, and representation. Hindi ko po matiis na nakaupo lang po sa malamig na opisina habang ‘yung mga kababayan natin ay naghihirap. Dapat po tayong nasa gobyerno ang lumapit po sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po ‘yung mga mahihirap,” Go highlighted in his speech.
During the event, Go commended the Rotary for its tireless efforts in serving the country. The forum is an annual gathering of Rotary senior leaders in the Philippines composed mostly of past, present, and future governors from ten districts in the country.
“I believe it is our responsibility to work together to address the challenges facing our society. Whether it be poverty, education, healthcare, peace and security, or the environment, it is only through collaboration and cooperation that we can find lasting solutions and create a brighter future for all Filipinos,” Go stressed while vowing to continue to advocate for people-centered measures that will bring the government closer to the people.
These include the continuing operations of Malasakit Centers and the establishment of more Super Health Centers nationwide.
Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops aimed at providing accessible and efficient financial and medical assistance to Filipinos. It was institutionalized through Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate in 2019.
“Noong unang panahon, wala pang Malasakit Center. Lunes, pupunta po sila (Filipino patients and their families) sa city hall, hihingi ng tulong. Halimbawa, bibigyan ng PhP20,000 out of their PhP87,000 (hospital) bill. Martes po, pupunta sila sa PCSO, pipila po, hihingi ng tulong. Miyerkules, pupunta sila ng DOH. Huwebes, pupunta sila ng DSWD. Biyernes po, (pipila para i-process ang benepisyo mula) PhilHealth. Ubos ‘yung panahon nila, ubos pa ‘yung pamasahe sa kakapila po para humingi ng tulong,” noted Go.
“Sabi ko, bakit natin pahirapan ‘yung Pilipino, pera nila ‘yan na dapat po ibalik sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mabilis na serbisyo,” he added.
Go mentioned that on February 10, he visited Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City where the country’s first-ever Malasakit Center was constructed to commemorate the program’s fifth anniversary. There are now 154 of these centers all over the country.
According to the DOH, the Malasakit Centers have made it more accessible for poor and indigent Filipinos to avail of medical assistance from the government and has so far helped more than 7 million patients nationwide.
Meanwhile, Super Health Centers are medium-sized versions of a polyclinic and an improved version of the rural health unit. Services offered in Super Health Centers include 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.
Through Go’s efforts, sufficient funds had been allocated under the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program for the construction of some 307 Super Health Centers. As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he was likewise successful in pushing for additional funds under the 2023 budget to support the construction of 322 SHCs in other parts of the country.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go also shared some of his proposals to address gaps in the healthcare system. He filed Senate Bill No. 195 which seeks to establish the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention; and SBN 196 which seeks to establish the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines; as well as SBN 1321 seeking to establish more specialty centers nationwide. These are among the legislative agenda contained in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Go also filed SBN 189 which proposes to provide free annual medical check-up to Filipinos; and SBN 190 which aims to increase the coverage of free dialysis treatments, among others.
To support the economy’s recovery, Go proposed SBN 1182 or the proposed Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery Act in a bid to strengthen the capacity of government financial institutions to provide financial assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises.
He also introduced SBN 420 which aims to offer temporary employment to eligible members of low-income rural households who are ready to perform unskilled physical labor for a period of time.
The senator also proposed SBN 1184 and 1191 which seek to protect the welfare and interest of delivery service riders and seafarers, respectively. To protect media and entertainment workers, Go also filed SB 1183.
Recently, Go filed SBN 1705 which proposes to increase the service incentive leave of private sector employees. He also filed SBN 1707 which seeks to provide competitive compensation packages to social workers.
To foster a more proactive approach to natural disasters, Go continues to push for the passage of SBN 188 which seeks to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience; and SBN 193 which aims to mandate the construction of permanent, safe and properly equipped evacuation centers in every LGU.
Go then expressed his support for the Philippine Rotary in hosting the 2028 Rotary International Convention that will be attended by more than 50,000 Rotarians from around the world.
“In my own capacity po, tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya para maging successful (ang convention)… tutulong po ako sa Rotary dahil ako po’y naniniwala rin sa inyong mabuting hangaring makatulong sa ating kapwa tao,” he said.
Go then issued a challenge, saying that everyone should “double efforts and work together to address the pressing issues facing the country.”
“Ako po’y nakaikot na sa buong Pilipinas. Kung napapanood n’yo po sa TV, ‘yung mula Aparri hanggang Jolo, ako po naabot ko na ‘yung mula Batanes, Aparri, Basilan, Jolo, hanggang Tawi-tawi. Nasunugan, bagyo, buhawi, putok ng bulkan, lindol, pinupuntahan ko talaga. Dahil ipinangako ko po sa Pilipino, kahit saang sulok kayo ng Pilipinas, pupuntahan, tutulong, at magseserbisyo ako sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he shared.
