Senators Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go and Robin Padilla witnessed last Thursday, Sept. 15 the groundbreaking ceremony of the ’’Super Health Canter’’ in barangay Munting Parang, Tagkawayan, Quezon.
In his speech, Go emphasized that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has served as an eye-opener on the crucial need to improve the country’s healthcare system.
Go has been pushing for the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country to improve the access of the Filipino people to quality government health services, especially in far-flung areas.
The senator reassured that the government has allotted P3.6 billion under the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program to construct 305 Super Health Centers nationwide.
The 'Super Health Center' is bigger than the rural health center but smaller than a hospital. It has birthing facilities, laboratories and an isolation area for emergency cases. It is for emergency treatment. That is the ‘Super Health Center’,” Go explained in an ambush interview after the launch of the 152nd Malasakit Center at the Maria L. Eleazar General Hospital (MLEGH) in the town.
Go said more than 300 Super Health Centers would be established in the different parts of the country.
‘’This was made possible through our initiative in the past Congress and the DOH. Eleven Super Health Centers are set to be constructed here in Quezon,” he added.
The two senators also witnessed the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Atimonan later that day. Similar centers will also be established in the towns of Agdangan, Alabat, Catanauan, Dolores, Gumaca, Infanta, Lopez, Mauban, and Perez.
After the groundbreaking, Go and Padilla personally led a relief activity for 375 college students in Tagkawayan. They distributed grocery packs, vitamins, masks, meals, and shirts.
Furthermore, they provided shoes, watches, and cellular phones to select individuals while others received bicycles, and balls for basketball and volleyball as part of Go's advocacy to encourage the youth to get into sports and avoid illegal drugs and other vices.
‘’To the youth, let us not waste what we have started with (former) President Rodrigo Duterte, the campaign against criminality, illegal drugs and corruption in government. Let’s pursue it,” said Go.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) likewise extended educational assistance to the students.
As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported the construction and rehabilitation of several roads in the town.
Earlier that day, Go and Padilla witnessed the launch of the 152nd Malasakit Center and the groundbreaking of a seven-story building inside the MLEGH complex.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent patients can conveniently apply for medical assistance from relevant agencies. The program was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go primarily authored and sponsored.
The Malasakit Centers have so far helped over seven million Filipinos nationwide.