Determined to bring essential healthcare services closer to families in the provinces, Senator Bong Go, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, filed Senate Bill No. 1783 seeking to establish the Tigaon Mother and Child General Hospital in Tigaon, Camarines Sur—an urgent response to the town’s growing need for accessible maternal and child healthcare.
The proposed measure aims to improve access to maternal, neonatal, and pediatric healthcare services for residents of Tigaon and nearby communities.
“Kapag mas accessible ang serbisyong medikal, mas maraming buhay ang maililigtas at mas magiging maayos ang kalusugan ng mga pamilya.”
“Napakahalaga po na mailapit natin ang serbisyong pangkalusugan, lalo na para sa mga buntis, mga ina, at mga bata. Kapag mas accessible ang serbisyong medikal, mas maraming buhay ang maililigtas at mas magiging maayos ang kalusugan ng mga pamilya,” Go said.
The veteran legislator emphasized that access to quality maternal and child healthcare—including prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal care—is crucial in reducing mortality, preventing complications, and ensuring healthy child development.
Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Municipality of Tigaon had a population of 60,524 as of the 2020 Census.
“Patients often need to travel for at least an hour to access specialized maternal and child healthcare services.”
Despite this sizable population, many residents currently rely on the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City, located more than 40 kilometers away. Patients often need to travel for at least an hour to access specialized maternal and child healthcare services, creating barriers to timely and effective care.
The bill also seeks to reduce the need for long and potentially risky travel for medical care while helping improve overall maternal and child health outcomes in Tigaon and its neighboring municipalities.
The seasoned lawmaker reiterated the importance of strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country, particularly in provincial areas, to ensure that more Filipinos have access to adequate and timely medical services.
