As Filipinos celebrate the Christmas season, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go underscored the importance of celebrating the holidays with health and compassion in mind. Known for his health reforms crusade, the senator called on Filipinos to embody the spirit of giving and togetherness while maintaining health-conscious practices to fully enjoy the festivities.
“We Filipinos are known as a very festive people with one of the longest Christmas celebrations in the world. This is the season of getting together, reminding us of the spirit of compassion, giving, and rejoicing with our family,” he began.
Senator Go, who serves as the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, urged Filipinos to balance celebration with mindfulness of their health.
“With rejoicing comes feasts, and we Filipinos love to share our bountiful meals during the long holiday break. As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, I believe there is no better way to celebrate this season than being healthy and worry-free. That is why we encourage our kababayans to still be mindful of how much and what they eat, get some exercise, and stay fit this season.”
Highlighting the accessibility of healthcare services championed during his tenure, Senator Go reiterated the value of programs aimed at addressing medical concerns, particularly for the underprivileged.
“In the unfortunate event that a medical concern should arise, the programs that we initiated, legislated, or advocated for are in place to make healthcare services more accessible, especially to the poor, such as the continuing operations of Malasakit Centers that provide convenient access to medical assistance; the establishment of Super Health Centers to bring primary care, consultations, and early disease detection in grassroots communities; and the creation of Regional Specialty Centers to bring specialized care in every region in the country.”
Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops aiming to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
Currently, 166 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The Department of Health (DOH) reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 15 million Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Super Health Centers are designed to focus on primary care, consultation, and early detection, further strengthening the healthcare sector in the country, especially in grassroots communities. Free consultations would be handled by municipal health offices, local government units, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through its Konsulta program.
Through the concerted efforts of Senator Go, fellow lawmakers, the DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.
Finally, Senator Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.
The senator also expressed gratitude to government workers who ensure public service reaches Filipinos in need, likening their contributions to the true essence of Christmas.
“We also thank our fellow workers in government for their continued service to help Filipinos in distress. Our collaborative efforts are precious gifts to everyone, whose lives are touched by compassion and service which are the true essence of Christmas—‘malasakit at serbisyo.’”
He took the opportunity to reaffirm his personal commitment to serve the Filipino people, vowing to continue his work tirelessly.
“Words are not enough to express my gratitude for the chance to be of service to the Filipino people. As your senator, I will continue to help as much as possible and to the best of my abilities to bring services, solutions, comfort, and compassion in your times of need.”
Reassuring the public of his dedication, he added, “Once again, allow me to express my sincerest gratitude to my fellow Filipinos for the continued trust. I seldom make promises, but what I can offer you is my perseverance and hard work. I will not waste this opportunity to be of service to the country and our people. Hindi po ako titigil magtrabaho para sa Pilipino dahil bisyo ko po ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo din sa Diyos.”
Concluding his message, Senator Go wished all Filipinos a joyful holiday season. “Wishing everyone a Blessed Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy Holiday Season!”
