Bong Go

Bong Go joins inauguration of Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bocaue, Bulacan

December 13, 2022 People's Journal 855 views

IN line with the government’s continuing efforts to address the needs of indigent patients and improve access to public health facilities in various parts of the country, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go joined Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva as they personally attended the inauguration of Joni Villanueva General Hospital (JVGH) in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday, December 12.

The said hospital was established after Republic Act No. 11720 was signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte last Congress. The measure was principally sponsored by Go in the Senate being the Chair of the Committee on Health and Demography. Through this law, the JVGH will be a Level-2 hospital that will be administered and managed by the Department of Health.

In his remarks, Go expressed his gratitude and commended the local government, headed by Mayor Jonjon Villanueva and Vice Mayor Sherwin Tugna, for extending their utmost support and commitment to establish the health facility. Go also paid tribute to the late mayor Joni Villanueva who passed away last May 2020, after whom the health facility was named.

“Unang-una, dapat pasalamatan natin ngayong araw na ito, of course, gusto ko pong pasalamatan si Mayor Joni Villanueva. Nakilala ko po siya sa ilang taon at nakakalungkot po na kumpleto na ‘yung ospital, wala siya ngayon dito. Siya po ang dapat nating pasalamatan. Palakpakan natin si Mayor Joni Villanueva, nasaan man siya ngayon,” expressed Go.

The senator also commended all medical frontliners who have been dedicated in making certain that their constituents are safe, especially at this time of the global health crisis.

He likewise cited that it is for this reason that he and Villanueva, the Senate Majority Floor Leader, continue to push for the construction of similar hospitals and health facilities so that the country can be more prepared for other health crises in the future.

“Of course, ang ating mga frontliners. Hindi po natin mararating itong narating natin ngayon kung hindi po sa inyong sakripisyo. Marami pong nagbuwis ng buhay ‘yung mga frontliners, doctors,” said Go.

“Lahat po kayo’y mga frontliners dahil lahat po kayo’y pumasok sa ospital, exposed na po kayo. Kaya ipinaglaban namin ni Sen. Joel, ang aming Majority Floor Leader, kung ano ‘yung mga dapat ibigay po sa inyo ay dapat pong ibigay po sa inyo. Salamat,” he added.

Meanwhile, Go expressed his confidence that JVGH will significantly contribute to the improvement of the country’s health care system especially in the greater Metro Manila areas.

On the other hand, Villanueva lauded Go for his commitment to ensure that those in need of health care get the service and assistance that they need.

“Masyado pong humble ‘yung huling nagsalita para sabihin na ‘supporting cast’ lang siya. Siya po ang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Health so hindi po siya supporting cast ‘nun. Siya po ang nag-sponsor, siya po yung nag-hearing, siya po yung ginamit ng Diyos upang tuluyang maipasa ang panukalang batas na ngayon ay ganap na batas na — ang Joni Villanueva General Hospital. Palakpakan po natin si Senator Bong Go,” remarked Villanueva in his speech.

“Si Senator Bong Go, noong time na nabubuhay pa si Mayor Joni, palaging pumupunta dito yan, palaging nagbibigay ng tulong. May nasunugan, may nangangailangan ng assistance, alam naman natin kung gaano siya kalapit kay (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte at isang tawag lang po diyan, nakakatulong po siya, di lang dito sa Bocaue, kundi sa buong Bulacan,” he expressed.

Continuing his remarks, Go likewise mentioned that there will soon be a Malasakit Center inside JVGH that will serve as a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs available from concerned agencies.

The Malasakit Centers program is a brainchild of Go that aims to provide poor and indigent patients convenient access to medical assistance programs by DOH, the Department of Welfare and Development, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office. The program has now established 153 centers and benefitted millions of poor and indigent Filipinos nationwide since it was initiated in 2018.

In the province, there are currently two Malasakit Centers that are located in Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City and Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria.

“Napag-usapan namin kanina ni Sen. Joel ang posibleng pagtatayo ng Malasakit Center dito sa inyong hospital. Ang Malasakit Center po para talaga ‘yan sa mga mahihirap. It’s a one-stop shop. Sa tulong po ni Sen. Joel, Congressman (Ambrosio “Boy”) Cruz (at) Cong. (Eddie) Villanueva, naisabatas po itong Malasakit Center,” shared Go.

In addition, Go also said that there will also be Super Health Centers that will be strategically located in the cities of San Jose Del Monte and Meycauayan; and towns of Bulakan, San Miguel, and Guiguinto, Balagtas, and Pandi, which he personally witnessed its groundbreaking later that day.

The said centers shall offer basic medical services, such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine.

“Ako naman po, patuloy po akong magseserbisyo sa inyo gaya po ng mga lingkod na nandito. Dahil kami po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo po sa tao, serbisyo po yan sa Diyos,” he concluded.

Apart from witnessing the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Pandi, Go also spearheaded a relief operation for 211 struggling Bulakeños.

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