SENATOR Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, thanked his colleagues in the Upper Chamber for supporting two of his proposals intended to protect overseas Filipinos and improve the ordinary people’s health condition by increasing the bed capacity and services of local hospitals, especially in the provinces.
Last May 25, 2021, Go joined forces with Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla in arguing before the plenary the approval on second reading of SB 2234, which, if passed, will establish the Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos.
The bills is the consolidated version of his earlier proposed measure that aims to create the Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOFil).
In his speech, Go noted that the creation of the new department “has been a long time coming” and is among the ‘priority legislative measures’ of Pres. Duterte.
The proposed department will be granted Cabinet status and shall be primarily responsible for protecting the rights and promoting the welfare and interests of migrant workers and other Filipinos overseas.
“Our goal is simple in this measure: to give our migrant workers and all other Filipinos abroad the best government service that we could give them,” began Go.
“Sa panukalang batas na ito, tapos na ang panahon na pinapagpapasa-pasahan natin ang ating mga kababayan.
Tapos na ang panahon na nauubos ang pasensya, pera at pagod ng kapwa natin mga Pilipino dahil sa burukrasya at bulok na sistema. Tapos na ang panahon na ang mga ahensya at opisina sa gobyerno na nagtuturuan [kung] sino ang dapat umako sa responsibilidad,” he added.
In another development last week, Go also thanked his colleagues for supporting his proposal creating 13 more public hospitals in the country.
The senator is already credited for the passage of the ‘Malasakit Center Law’ that is now providing cheap and even free medical services, especially to poor Filipinos.
The measure passed after intense interpellation of Go by Senate Minority Leader Sen. Franklin Drilon.
The 13 separate bills for the creation of new hospitals seek to improve the delivery of health care services to poor and marginalized Filipinos by increasing the capacities of various local hospitals.
The bills have been approved on the second reading by the Senate and are set to be deliberated for third reading this week.
“Inaasahan natin na pumasa na ito sa Lunes May 31, 2021).
“Finally, matatapos na ang dalawang linggong debate. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng kasamahan ko sa Senado, including the Senate Minority Leader.
Talagang pinaghirapan natin ang hospital bills na ito. Ako naman, hindi ako titigil na ipaglaban ang kapakanan ng mga mahihirap natin na kababayan,” he said.
“May mga ospital nga tayo na nasa 400 porsiyento ang occupancy rate eh ayaw nga natin na umabot ng 100 porsiyento,” he said.
The senator, who is also chair of the Senate Committee on Health, shared that his primary concern as of the moment is to ensure the stability of the national health care system by making sure hospitals have sufficient capacity, resources and personnel to respond to the pandemic.
“Hopefully, after the [bicameral committee approval] dadalhin na ito kay Pangulong Duterte para maisabatas at malagyan ng budget next year,” he enthused.
The senator is already credited for the passage of the ‘Malasakit Center Law’ that is now providing cheap and even free medical services, especially to poor Filipinos.
Only last May 28, 2021, Go personally witnessed the launching of the country’s 115th and 116th Malasakit Centers at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila, respectively.
The centers are ‘one-stop shops’ he pioneered which provide convenient access to the medical assistance programs offered by the national government particularly to poor and indigent patients