To bring essential services closer to communities, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go led the inauguration of the new Super Health Center in Paombong, Bulacan and aided impoverished sectors in the town on Monday, October 21.
“Maraming salamat po sa inyo dahil sa pagkakataon na inyong ibinigay sa akin upang makapag serbisyo sa inyo. Hinding hindi ko po sasayangin ang pagkakataon na binigay ninyo sa akin na makapag serbisyo sa inyo. Iyan lang po ang maiaalay ko sa inyo, ang aking kasipagan sa pagserbisyo,” Go said.
“Mayroon lang po akong sasabihin sa inyo at tandaan po natin ito. Minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Iyan po ang totoo,” he added.
Senator Go, who was given the recognition as an adopted son of Paombong by the Sangguniang Bayan of the town through Resolution No. 2024-10-227 emphasized the significance of building more Super Health Centers as part of his continued efforts to enhancing healthcare accessibility in communities.
“Sa mga itinayo na Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad, lalo na sa rural areas. ‘Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” he said.
The Super Health Centers can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing primary medical services closer to the grassroots. This healthcare facility also offers primary care, medical consultation, and early disease detection, further strengthening the healthcare sector at the community-level.
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including 18 in Bulacan.
The Senator then also expressed gratitude to the DOH and the local government for their diligent efforts in making the Super Health Center a reality. He specifically thanked Mayor Mary Anne Marcos and local councilors, and the Barangay Health Workers present.
“Binabati ko po ang mga opisyales ng Paombong lalo na ang mga health workers na dapat nating pasalamatan sa walang sawa nila na pagtatrabaho. Kasama niyo po ako sa pagseserbisyo para sa mga taga Paombong,” the Senator expressed.
Mayor Marcos then thanked and gave her deep gratitude to Go for his unwavering support to the municipality. “Bagama’t maliit (ang ating bayan), binalikan po tayo. Dito, makikita po natin ang mga tao na may malasakit sa kapwa dahil bumabalik sila sa mga tao at nagpapasalamat. Palakpakan po natin si Senator Bong Go!”
“Bilang punong lingkod, ako’y taos pusong nagpapasalamat dahil ang mga proyekto na hindi natin kaya ay binigay nila ng bukas palad. Maraming salamat po,” Mayor Marcos added.
Meanwhile, a total of 50 barangay health workers (BHWs) received grocery packs, snacks, shirts, foldable fans, and basketballs and volleyballs from Senator Go.
Furthermore, there were 1,500 indigent residents from various sectors gathered at the Paombong Municipal Covered Court who received additional support from Go, such as food packs, snacks, vitamins, masks, shirts, foldable fans, basketballs, and volleyballs. Some of them also received shoes, mobile phones, bicycles and a watch.
In partnership with the local government of Paombong led by Mayor Marcos, they also provided financial support to the identified indigent sectors present.
Meanwhile, Go offered additional aid to individuals with medical needs and advised them to avail themselves of the assistance provided by nearby Malasakit Centers located at Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bocaue, Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City, Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria, and Ospital ng San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.
Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops for medical assistance programs aimed at helping impoverished patients reduce their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
As of now, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The DOH reports that the Malasakit Centers program has already provided aid to over 15 million Filipinos.
“Ako ang inyong Senator kuya Bong Go na patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po ‘yan sa Diyos. Salamat po at bukas ang aking opisina para sa inyong lahat,” Go ended.
Earlier that day, Go also provided assistance to impoverished residents in Calumpit, Bulacan in partnership with the town’s local government. He also attended the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines’ (IMAP) 50th Annual Convention held at SMX Convention in Pasay City.
