Senator Bong Go urged the Department of Health to prioritize completing and operationalizing existing Super Health Centers before pursuing more facilities, stressing that government-funded health infrastructure must actually serve patients instead of being left idle.
During the Senate budget hearing, Go reiterated a position he and Senate President Win Gatchalian had pushed during previous budget deliberations: finish existing projects first and make them functional.
“Bigyan ng priority ’yung mga completion muna. Huwag ’yung mga bago.”
“To make it operational at huwag pong iiwan na white elephant. Kaya last year, I agreed with the Senate Finance Chair, SP Win Gatchalian, na unahin po, bigyan ng priority ’yung mga completion muna. Huwag ’yung mga bago,” the veteran legislator said.
“Tapusin na lahat ito para magamit po. Sayang naman po na maiwan pong nakatiwangwang diyan,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
Gatchalian had earlier flagged billions of pesos worth of incomplete or idle health facilities.
In discussing finished Super Health Centers that remained unused, the Senate chief said some had “walang tao, walang operations” and pushed a moratorium on new facilities until existing ones could be staffed and utilized.
Separately, then-Health Secretary Ted Herbosa disclosed that some non-operational centers lacked basic utilities such as electricity and water, while LGUs were expected under existing arrangements to provide connections and personnel.
Go stressed that these implementation failures should not be used to dismiss the value of Super Health Centers altogether.
The senator said the facilities remain particularly important in geographically isolated communities where patients sometimes travel for hours by boat or through mountainous terrain just to reach a hospital.
He cited Balut Island in Mindanao, Tingloy in Batangas and communities around Lake Sebu in South Cotabato as examples of locations where accessible local health facilities can significantly reduce the burden on patients.
“Malaking tulong po ’yun sa mga liblib na lugar.”
“More than 7,000 islands po tayo sa buong Pilipinas. Mayroong mga lugar doon na four hours ang biyahe sa bangka papunta lang sa town proper, tapos another two hours papunta sa hospital,” Go said. “Malaking tulong po ’yun sa mga liblib na lugar.”
He said the solution is stronger screening and coordination before projects are approved.
“Pag-aralan nang mabuti kung kaya ba nila bago niyo pasukin, bago niyo pirmahan ’yung kontrata kung kaya ba nilang mag-operate,” Go told the DOH.
He urged DOH regional offices to assess whether LGUs have the necessary personnel, operating funds and capability, while the national government provides support through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program where needed.
Current DOH data cited during House budget deliberations show hundreds of Super Health Centers have already been completed, while the government is targeting the completion of additional primary care facilities in 2027.
Go said the priority should remain clear.
“Make it operational,” he told health officials. “Complement with each other po ang DOH at ang LGUs.”
Go stressed that the goal of Super Health Centers remains to bring consultations, diagnostics, maternal care and other primary healthcare services closer to Filipinos, especially those living far from major hospitals.
“Sayang naman po na maiwan pong nakatiwangwang. Ang pakiusap ko sa DOH, make it operational,” Go concluded.
