Residents of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte gathered in full force on March 27, as the town formally received its newest healthcare facility — the Sindangan People’s Super Health Center and Dialysis Unit. The occasion marked another step forward in Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s long-running health reforms crusade, aimed at bridging the healthcare gap in far-flung communities.
Senator Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, has actively supported the establishment of Super Health Centers across the country, particularly in areas where access to primary healthcare remains limited. His representative was also present during the groundbreaking of the Sindangan facility on February 8 last year.
“Ang gusto lang natin ay walang Pilipinong mamamatay nang hindi man lang nakakakita ng duktor,” said Go. “Hindi kailangang magbiyahe ng malayo o gumastos ng malaki para magpakonsulta. Kung may masakit, dapat may malapitan agad.”
The new facility is part of a broader push to decentralize health services and reduce pressure on major hospitals while ensuring timely intervention for common illnesses and medical concerns. According to Go, bringing these services closer to the people is not a privilege but a fundamental right that every Filipino deserves.
“Isa sa mga aral ng pandemya ay ang kahalagahan ng maayos na healthcare system, lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar. Dapat handa tayo, hindi reactive lang, at ang solusyon ay magsimula sa basic health services na abot-kamay,” he added.
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.
“Patuloy po akong tutulong sa pagpaparami ng Super Health Centers sa bansa sa abot po ng aking makakaya,” said Go.
Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health (DOH), led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for establishing more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including 11 in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.
Meanwhile, Go also urged residents to make full use of the government’s Malasakit Centers for their medical and financial assistance needs. In Zamboanga del Norte, Malasakit Centers are operational at the Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital in Dapitan City and the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center in Dipolog City.
Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops aiming to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. 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.
As of now, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The DOH reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 17 million Filipinos.
Senator Go closed his message by reminding the public that healthcare is a shared responsibility — one that requires compassion, planning, and continuity.
“Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” underscored Go.
