103rd Malasakit Center launch in Carcar City, Cebu

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go recognized the sacrifices and selfless service of healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic during the launch of the country’s 103rd Malasakit Center at the Carcar Provincial Hospital in Carcar City, Cebu on Tuesday, April 27.

The CPH is the sixth hospital in Cebu to establish its own Malasakit Center, in addition to the Eversley Childs Sanitarium & General Hospital in Mandaue City, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, and Talisay City District Hospital.

“Mula sa amin ni Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte, maraming salamat sa mga frontliner dito sa Region 7 para sa inyong serbisyo ngayong panahon. Nakita ko ang inyong mga doctors at nurses, ang sisipag talaga at nag-volunteer pa na pumunta ng Manila… Isog gid ang mga Bisaya at mayroon malasakit sa kapwa niyang Pilipino,” began Go.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go assured healthcare workers of his and the President’s unwavering support.

Go has consistently pushed for better compensation of nurses through the passage of Salary Standardization Law V which he authored, and the allocation of funds for the implementation of the Supreme Court decision to raise the entry level salary grades of public sector nurses, among others.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Go also successfully appealed for the release of the active hazard pay and special risk allowance benefits for health workers.

“Kayo ang inaasahan ngayon. Kaya nga frontliners dahil kayo ang nakakaalam ng ganitong giyera. Salamat sa inyong sakripisyo at rest assured na handa kami ni Presidente Duterte na magserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Sabihan niyo lang kami kung anuman ang maitutulong namin,” continued Go.

To address the need of the country for more health professionals, the Senator appealed to National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to include the personnel of the Professional Regulatory Board, such as volunteer proctors and watchers, in Priority Group A4 of the government’s vaccination program.

“Kinausap ko si Secretary Galvez at Duque na ‘yung PRC examiners ay bigyan ng priority sa pagbakuna dahil marami ng mga medical workers na tapos na sa pag-aaral na hindi pa naka-board exam. Sabi ko, bakunahan agad ‘yung mga PRC para makapag-umpisa na rin i-resume ang pag-exam ng mga graduates,” revealed Go.

He further asked authorities to consider pre-board nursing graduates who are scheduled to take their board exams in 2021 in the priority list without prejudice to already identified priority sectors and depending on the scheduled availability of additional vaccine doses.

On this note, the Senator admitted the challenges facing the country amid a huge unmet global demand for COVID-19 vaccines. With supplies limited, he reminded local authorities to adhere to the vaccine prioritization framework in order to ensure the country’s healthcare workers and most vulnerable citizens are inoculated first.

“Prangka ako, naghirap talaga ang ating gobyerno na kumuha ng bakuna, limitado talaga ang supply. Noong nakaraang buwan, (nakipagpulong) si Secretary Galvez sa India (officials para maka-order ng bakuna) pero ngayon hindi nila maiibigay dahil sila mismo kailangan rin nila ng bakuna,” added Go,

“Ganyan ka limitado ang bakuna kaya naman sundin natin ang priority list. Dapat walang mag-overtake para mabakunahan ang mga frontliner dahil sila ang atin pinapaharap sa giyera,” he emphasized.