Senator Christopher "Bong" Go attended the vibrant Dinagyang Festival at the Freedom Grandstand in Iloilo City on Sunday, January 28.
The senator highlighted the importance of cultural celebrations in fostering community spirit and national pride.
He praised the organizers and the local government led by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Congresswoman Julienne “Jam Jam” Baronda, Councilor Love Baronda and other city officials for their meticulous planning and execution, which ensured a safe and successful event.
The Dinagyang Festival was also attended by fellow senators Lito Lapid, Francis Tolentino, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Risa Hontiveros, and other public figures as well as local officials led by Governor Arthur "Toto" Rivera Defensor Jr., Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Congressman James "Jojo" Ang, Leganes Mayor Vicente “Junjun” Jaen, among others.
“Unang-una, ‘wag ho kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Trabaho namin ang magserbisyo sa inyo. Kami po ang dapat magpasalamat dahil binigyan n’yo po kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo. Gusto ko pong batiin ang ating mga kababayan ng Happy Dinagyang Festival po,” said Go in a radio interview earlier that day.
“Nandito lang ako na handang tumulong sa inyo dito sa Iloilo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Patuloy lang tayong magmahalan, magsama-sama tayo para sa Dinagyang. Hala Bira!” he remarked.
Amid the festivities, Go’s visit will not be complete without helping communities in need. That is why he also provided assistance to 53 victims of Typhoon Egay from the towns of Pavia, Zarraga, and Iloilo City during his visit.
The beneficiaries also received assistance from the National Housing Authority for housing materials to rebuild their houses.
Go also inspected the Super Health Center being built in Pavia, Iloilo which he advocated for together with the Department of Health, fellow lawmakers including Cong. Mike Gorriceta who joined him in his visit, as well as Mayor Luigi Gorriceta, Vice Mayor Edsel Gerochi and the rest of the local government.
Furthermore, Senator Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, took the opportunity to discuss his ongoing commitment to the province, with a particular focus on health initiatives.
He underscored the presence of Malasakit Centers in the city located at West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Medical Center, which offer medical-related assistance to residents. These Malasakit Centers, according to Go, are part of a larger initiative aimed at providing accessible healthcare services to Filipinos.
“It’s a one stop shop. Batas na po ‘yan, naumpisahan ‘yan noong 2018 at isinulong natin sa Senado noong 2019. In fact, isa po ang Iloilo sa mga unang natayuan ng Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas. Nasa loob na po ng isang kwarto sa ospital ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, at DSWD. Para po ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients. Ano po ba ang qualification ng Malasakit Center? Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Lapitan n’yo lang po ang Malasakit Center, para po sa Pilipino po ‘yan,” explained Go.
“Hindi n’yo na kinakailangan pong paikot-ikot, at pumila sa iba’t ibang opisina. Nasa loob na ng ospital ang kwarto, hanapin n’yo lang ang signage na Malasakit Center, doon na sila hihingi ng tulong. Mayroon pong social worker na magga-guide sa kanila to avail of assistance mula sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno,” he continued.
A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program, institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which he principally sponsored and authored, is designed to help indigent patients reduce their medical expenses to the lowest amount possible.
Other Malasakit Centers in the province are located at Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Western Visayas Sanitarium, and General Hospital in Santa Barbara.
To date, there are 159 Malasakit Centers that have helped around ten million poor Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH.
In addition to highlighting the Malasakit Centers, Senator Go vowed to support the construction of more Super Health Centers nationwide. These health facilities are designed to improve healthcare delivery, provide primary care, offer consultations, and enhance disease detection at the grassroots level.
In the province, there are 21 Super Health Centers funded. Go personally inspected the one in Pavia later that day.
Lastly, Senator Go underscored the importance of establishing regional specialty centers. These centers, institutionalized under RA 11959, known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, for which Go was the principal sponsor and one of the authors in the Senate, are envisioned to offer specialized medical treatments and services catering to the specific health needs of Filipinos in all regions.
Go highlighted that this initiative aligns with his broader goal of decentralizing healthcare services and making specialized medical care more accessible to people in different parts of the country.
Western Visayas Medical Center has existing regional specialty centers, including cardiovascular care, lung care, neonatal care, and mental health. It also plans to cater to orthopedic care, physician rehabilitation medicine, trauma care, cancer care, geriatric care, eye care, and toxicology care.
Meanwhile, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital in Santa Barbara plans to have a specialty center focusing on toxicology care.
Go also contributed to the city's betterment as he supported several projects as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance. Among the projects are constructing multipurpose buildings and health stations in various barangays, road rehabilitation, and acquiring medical equipment.
He also supported other projects in the province.
