Bong Go: Healthcare still a major issue that should be addressed

DAVAO DEL SUR – Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) and aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go reiterated that healthcare was still a major issue in the Philippines and that measures must be put into place to make quality healthcare more accessible to Filipinos, especially the poor.

“Kailangan pa ring magpasok ng mga pagbabago sa medical services natin. Malaking issue pa rin ang healthcare sa bansa at kailangan itong matugunan (We should introduce chances in our medical services. Health care remains a huge issue in our country that needs to be addressed),” Go said Saturday.

The former SAP was in his hometown of Davao City where he attended a medical mission held at the Barangay Buhangin Gym in the city’s District II.

The medical mission, organized by concerned individuals and organizations in cooperation with city government officials and doctors from Southern Philippines Medical Center, featured various individuals from different backgrounds assisting in the service-oriented activity.

“Para sa akin, malaking bagay po ang tulong na ibinigay ninyo sa event dahil marami po talagang Davaoeño ang nakinabang at natulungan dito (For me, what you did for this event comes a long way because you were able to help many Davaeños who availed of the free services),” said Go, lauding the event organizers and participants.

“Panahon na po talaga para ang mga tao sa iba’t-ibang sector ng lipunan, lalo na po ang nasa private sector, na tumulong sa kapwa nilang Pilipino. Magtulungan po tayo, gobyerno at private, para maiakyat ang antas ng serbisyong medikal sa Pilipinas, serbisyong tunay na nagmamalasakit sa mga maysakit (It is high time for all sectors of society, especially those in the private sector, to help their fellow Filipinos. Let’s all help each other, government and private sector, to uplift the quality of medical services in the Philippines with genuine service that truly cares for the sick),” Go added.

Bong Go, who had worked with President Rodrigo Duterte back when Duterte was still mayor of Davao City, discussed why healthcare has always been a top priority of his.

“Matagal po akong nagserbisyo kay Boss (President Duterte). Sa haba ng panahon na nagtrabaho po ako sa kanya, nakita ko na ito talaga ‘yung isa sa pinaka-kailangang ayusing isyu sa Pilipinas (I’ve worked for President Duterte for so long. In that long stretch of time when I worked for him, I really saw why this is really the most important thing that should be fixed in the Philippines),” Go stated.

Go cited the the Malasakit Center program, foremost among the programs for improving the healthcare services.

"Kung noon po ay palipat-lipat ng opisina po ang mga pasyente at kamag-anak nila para humingi ng tulong sa PCSO, DOH, DSWD, and PhilHealth po, halos maubos na po 'yung panahon nila, mamasahe sila, papatak 'yung bill nila, ngayon po, with the Malasakit Center, sa iisang bubong, sa iisang kuwarto, nandoon na po ‘yung mga representative ng PCSO, DOH, DSWD, at PhilHealth,” Go explained.