SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go’s team continued their outreach activities in Tarlac as they assisted indigents in the towns of San Manuel and Ramos on Saturday, a day after they held a similar aid distribution in Concepcion.

In his video message, Go underscored that the government plays a crucial role in boosting the economy and delivering quality public service to meet the needs of the people, especially during these challenging times.

Recently, Go authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 1594 which aims to institutionalize the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Program. If passed into law, it would help boost recovery and promote innovation among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

“The proposed measure shall assist and capacitate MSMEs in developing new, innovative and more complex products and services through significant improvement in the areas of quality, product development, design, packaging, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, brand development, sustainability, and securing licenses, product registration and other market authorization, among others,” Go explained.

Held at the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) in San Manuel and Sangguniang Bayan Hall in Ramos, Go’s team provided masks, snacks, and shirts to 66 struggling residents. They also gave away cellular phones and shoes to select beneficiaries.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in turn extended financial assistance to each indigent.

Go, who heads the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, likewise remains committed to improving access to affordable healthcare as he supports the establishment of more Super Health Centers in the country.

Through Go’s initiative and with the support of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program for the construction of some 307 Super Health Centers. He likewise successfully pushed for additional funds under the 2023 budget to support the construction of 322 more Super Health Centers in other parts of the country.

Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and 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, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

In Tarlac, Super Health Centers were funded in 2022 for the towns of Gerona, La Paz, Paniqui, Victoria, Mayantoc, and San Jose, which he personally inspected on March 9.

This year, Super Health Centers were funded in the towns of San Manuel, Camiling, Capas, Concepcion, Moncada, San Clemente, and Santa Ignacia; and in the city of Tarlac.

“Isinulong ko po talaga ang pagpapatayo ng mga Super Health Centers sa buong Pilipinas dahil alam ko po kung gaano ninyo kailangan na mapalapit sa inyo ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” said Go. “’Yung mga nasa probinsya po, lalo na ‘yung mga nasa liblib na lugar, ‘yun po ang target na tayuan ng mga Super Health Centers. Para po masiguro na hindi na po nila kailangang lumayo at gumastos ng malaki para lang makapagpaospital,” he added.

In addition, Go highlighted that there is a Malasakit Center at Tarlac Provincial Hospital in Tarlac City where residents may conveniently avail of medical assistance programs from the government.

Senator Go principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, to ensure that particularly poor and indigent patients have easier access to medical assistance programs by the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Currently, there are 156 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

Concluding his message, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, reassured that he will continue to support the development of the province to the best of his capacity.

For this reason, he earlier supported the construction or improvement of roads in Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Pura, San Jose, Victoria, and Tarlac City; improvement of the flood control structures along the Moriones River in Tarlac City; and the construction of multipurpose buildings in San Manuel and Victoria.