SBG unsparing in push to improve PH’s health care service

SENATE Committee on Health chair, Sen. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, continues to demonstrate his unsparing effort to improve the country’s health care system and services with the passage by the Upper Chamber, on second reading, of 15 of his sponsored local hospital bills aimed at improving, developing, and establishing public hospitals across the country last January 28, 2022.

“Kailangan nating palakasin pa ang ating health care system dahil hindi natin alam kung ilang pandemya pa ang darating. Huwag po nating hintayin na tuluyan nang bumigay ang healthcare system natin at malagay sa panganib ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” said Go.

In a previous speech, Go pointed out that improving and establishing hospitals run by the national government should not be treated as a burden but an investment, noting, “Dahil sa huli, kapag hindi yan nagawa ng LGU, national government din ang sasalo sa problemang iyan.”

The proposed measures seek to convert the Cotabato Sanitarium in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao as a general hospital to be known as the Cotabato Sanitarium and General Hospital; the Sulu Sanitarium in Jolo into a General Hospital to be known as the Sulu Sanitarium and General Hospital; and the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara, Iloilo into a General Hospital to be known as the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital.

All measures also provide for the corresponding increase in bed capacities of these hospitals.

In addition, some of the measures aim to upgrade the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Legazpi City, Albay into a general and subspecialty hospital to be known as the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center; and the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, into a tertiary hospital to be known as the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center.

Go also sponsored the bills to increase the bed capacity of several hospitals, including the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija from 400 to 1,000 beds;

Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union from 300 to 800 beds; Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental from 600 to 1,200 beds; and, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City from 1,200 to 1,500 beds.

Finally, the new Department of Health hospitals to be established under Go’s sponsored measures include the Ilocos Sur Medical Center in Candon City; Samar Island Medical Center in Calbayog City; Southern Luzon Multispecialty Medical Center in Tayabas, Quezon Province;

Northwestern Cagayan General Hospital in Cagayan; Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bulacan; and, Northeastern Misamis General Hospital in Misamis Oriental.

In his sponsorship speech delivered on January 25, Go stressed the importance of upgrading existing hospitals and establishing new ones, especially in the countryside, where they are most needed.

“Sa pandemyang ito, nakita natin kung gaano kahalaga ang investment sa kalusugan. Nahihirapan tayo ngayon dahil hindi natin ito binigyan ng pansin nitong nagdaang mga dekada. Kaya ngayon, nagkulang ang ating mga ospital, kama at equipment para labanan ang pandemya,” noted Go.

Go also reiterated the need to constantly improve the country’s healthcare system especially amid the threat of COVID-19 and its variants.

“Sa gitna ng naglalabasang COVID-19 variants, dapat palagi nating palakasin pa ang ating healthcare system. Bago pa man ang pandemya, kulang na po ang mga kama sa mga pampublikong ospital,” he noted.

Two days previously, last January 26, 2022, Go also lauded the passage, also on second reading, of SB 2420, to be known as the ‘Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act,’ aimed at helping the victims of the 2017 ‘Marawi Siege’ rebuild their lives.

The bill, which Go co-authored, provides for the giving of compensation to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and families who have been displaced and their properties severely damaged or destroyed after Islamic State (IS) terrorists overrun Marawi, resulting to a 5-month fighting between them and government troops.

“Maraming salamat po sa aking mga kapwa senador sa pag-suporta ng Marawi Compensation Bill. Marami pa po sa ating mga kapatid doon ang hindi pa lubusang nakakabangon kaya naman po malaking tulong po ito sa kanila,” Go remarked.

Go noted that as much as 98 percent of the city’s population, as well as those living in adjacent areas were displaced by the fighting.

“Importante sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte ang kapayapaan, lalo na sa Mindanao. Wala na po dapat na patayan. Sino ba namang gustong magpatayan Pilipino laban sa kapwa Pilipino? Masakit ‘yon,” said Go.

“The government’s efforts in achieving sustainable peace and development across the country must be continuously pursued,” he added.