Senator Bong Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, recently visited the municipality of Llanera in Nueva Ecija and inspected the town’s new Super Health Center (SHC), which is expected to provide more accessible basic health services to the community.
Go was joined by local government officials, including Mayor Ronnie Roy Pascual, Vice Mayor Hermogenes “Onyok” Tadiaman Jr., and Councilors Cherrie Pie Bugayong, Pastor Balaba, Alep Santos, Abuel Arocena, Itong Bautista, Elsa Vergara, Jun Martin, and Cleofe Felix, among others.
In his speech, the legislator commended the local government of Llanera and the Department of Health for their commitment to improve the health and welfare of the residents.
The lawmaker noted that the SHC is a vital component of the government’s healthcare system and will provide much-needed medical services to the town and neighboring areas.
“Magkakaroon po ng 322 na Super Health Center sa taong 2023 sa buong Pilipinas.”
“Binisita rin po namin ‘yung itatayong Super Health Center. Magtatayo po ng siyam na Super Health Center dito po sa probinsya ng Nueva Ecija kasama na po diyan ang Llanera. At magkakaroon po ng 322 na Super Health Center sa taong 2023 sa buong Pilipinas po,” the senator shared.
Super Health Centers are improved versions of polyclinics that offer database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
“Ang Super Health Center po, pwede diyan ang dental, laboratory, at panganganak po. ‘Yung mga buntis, pwede pong manganak diyan sa Super Health Center para ilapit po natin ‘yung serbisyo medical sa ating mga kababayan,” he explained.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.
In Nueva Ecija, DOH has identified areas in Llanera, Rizal, San Leonardo, Sto. Domingo, Aliaga, Bongabon, Science City of Muñoz, Zaragoza, and Cabanatuan City for the construction of Super Health Centers.
After the inspection, Go joined the inauguration of the town’s public wet market, which is set to provide the community with a clean and safe place to buy fresh produce and other goods. The funding for its construction was earlier supported by Go as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.
“Masaya ako sa mga ganitong inisyatibong makakatulong sa kabuhayan at pagpapaunlad ng inyong komunidad.”
“Natutuwa po ako na may bago na po kayong wet market. Para sa mga nagtitinda dito sa palengke, alagaan nyo itong palengke ninyo… yung mga paninda nyo dito mga sariwa. Masaya ako sa mga ganitong inisyatibong makakatulong sa kabuhayan at pagpapaunlad ng inyong komunidad,” he said during his visit
.
“May market din po dito na sinuportahan ni Senator Bato dela Rosa. Ako naman ay masaya rin pong naka-contribute sa inyong wet market. Asahan niyo po na sa abot ng aking makakaya ay handa po akong tumulong at magserbisyo sa inyong lahat dito sa bayan ng Llanera,” Go continued.
He has likewise previously supported the construction of a flood control structure in the town.
“Alam n’yo, wala pong masasayang na oras. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino. Iyan po ang pwede kong ialay sa inyo, ang aking pagseserbisyo, ang aking kasipagan sa pagtatrabaho. Sanay po ako sa trabaho. Umaga, tanghali, hapunan, sa panaginip nagtatrabaho pa ako,” Go stressed.
“Ayaw kong may masayang na oras. Hanggang nakakatulog ako, ‘yung cellphone ko, nandiyan sa tabi ko. Iyan po ang natutunan ko kay (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, pagseserbisyo po sa kapwa Piliipino,” he added.
Go, who is an adopted son of Nueva Ecija, then led a relief operation at Lagasca Gymnasium where he provided assistance to 1,000 struggling residents.
He and his team distributed grocery packs, masks, snacks, vitamins, and shirts to the residents. They also gave away bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance.
Earlier that day, Go was in Talavera where he checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center at Talavera General Hospital, provided aid to patients and hospital frontliners, and then inspected the Talavera Bridge — another project the senator supported.
