Reelectionist Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday, April 20 renewed his call for public vigilance and strengthened disease surveillance across all regions as state health experts confirm two additional cases of the monkey pox (mpox) disease in Davao City last April 16. 

The Davao City Health Office (CHO), in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), confirmed the cases and said both patients were admitted to the isolation facility of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). 

One of them, however, was severely immunocompromised, and died of complications unrelated directly to mpox.

Monkeypox cases have been previously detected in various parts of the Philippines—including Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and Baguio City.

“Hindi dapat mag-panic ang taumbayan. Pero mahalaga na alam natin kung paano mag-ingat. Ugaliing maghugas ng kamay, iwasan ang pisikal na contact lalo na kung may sintomas ang kausap, at agad magpakonsulta kapag may nararamdamang kakaiba sa katawan (The public should not panic. But it is important that we know how to be careful. Make it a habit to wash your hands, avoid physical contact especially if the person you are talking to has symptoms, and seek immediate medical attention if you feel anything unusual in your body,” Go said. 

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, also reminded the public to observe the key preventive measures to reduce transmission risks, noting there are just four simple steps that should be remembered.

“First, avoid close and intimate contact with those who have symptoms. Second, continue to wash your hands frequently with soap or alcohol. Third, clean and disinfect items or areas that may be contaminated. And fourth, avoid animals—especially those that appear sick—because they can also carry the virus,” said Go, who is running for reelection in the upcomign May 2025 elections. 

The senator also urged the public to follow health protocols issued by local health offices and to remain informed about developments concerning mpox.

Nevertheless, he reminded the government must remain proactive rather than reactive when addressing public health threats, stressing the need for institutional preparedness and long-term structural reforms.

“It is not enough to launch a campaign every time there is an outbreak. We need a strong system, a plan, funding, and sufficient knowledge for every Filipino. That is where we have real protection,” he pointed out. 

At the same time, Go reiterated his call for lawmakers to approve Senate Bill No. 195 or the bill that seeks the establishment of the Center for Disease Control (CDC)—a dedicated agency tasked with overseeing disease prevention, monitoring, and containment.

“Kung may sariling CDC ang Pilipinas, mas mabilis tayong makakaresponde sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. Hindi na kailangang maghintay pa ng kumpirmasyon mula sa ibang ahensya bago kumilos (If the Philippines had its own CDC, we would be able to respond faster to situations like this. There would be no need to wait for confirmation from other agencies before taking action),” the lawmaker stressed.