Bong Go visits healthcare workers in Cotabato City, hails ongoing initiatives to improve health service delivery in Mindanao

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go personally visited the frontline healthcare workers at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City on Friday, September 24, to check on their welfare, respond to their needs, and recognize their contributions as they work with the government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

He praised the team behind the CRMC for their efforts to improve the quality of health services they provide during the groundbreaking ceremonies for a new temporary treatment and monitoring facility for COVID-19 patients, as well as a building to house its Malasakit Center. 

 

“Naaalala ko nung pumunta ako dito para buksan ang 16th Malasakit Center sa bansa. Ako po’y natutuwa na since then meron na tayong 141 sa buong Pilipinas! Nagpapasalamat ako kay Mayor [Frances Guiani-Sayadi] and Dr. [Ishmael Dimaren] para sa inisyatibo ninyo na magpatayo ng building para maging mas komportable ang ating mga kababayan,” said Go. 

 

He checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center which he personally opened on November 19, 2018. The center is a one-stop shop which provides quick and convenient access to the medical assistance programs of the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. 

 

The program aims to reduce a hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering surgeries, medicines and other patient services and expenses. It was institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which Go authored and sponsored in the Senate. 

 

In a message to hospital staff, the Senator reminded them to prioritize the poor and underserved communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. He also pledged to extend all necessary forms of support so that the CRMC would have the resources it needs to provide the best quality of care possible to its patients.   

 

”Gaya ng sinabi ko sa mga doktor at social worker kanina, full support ako sa inyo dito pero pakiusap, ‘wag niyo pong pababayaan ‘yung mga mahihirap natin na kababayan,” said Go. 

 

“Bilang inyong committee chair on health sa Senado, you have my full support. Kung ano man ang kailangan ninyo sa inyung ospital, magsabi lang kayo at gagawin ko ang lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya upang tulungan kayo,” he vowed. 

 

In line with this, Go promised to push for measures that will ensure all health workers are supported and protected at this time. He recently filed Senate Bill No. 2398 which aims to provide health workers continuous and more inclusive allowances and benefits during the ongoing state of public health emergency. 

 

The bill specifically provides for a fixed monthly COVID-19 special risk allowance to every health worker, in addition to the hazard pay granted under Magna Carta of Public Health Workers. It also gives public health workers an additional monthly Active Hazard Duty Pay on top of what existing laws already provide. 

 

“Walang pinipili dapat. Mapribado man o mapampubliko ay dapat fixed ang SRA ninyo. Huwag nilang sasabihin na ang mga ito lang ang exposed tapos kukuwentahin pa ang mga araw na exposed kayo. Pagpasok mo sa ospital, dapat considered exposed ka na! Bakit? Nakikita ba natin ang virus?” continued Go.  

 

”Napakaliit na halaga ito sa sakripisyo na ginagawa ninyo. Hindi mababayaran ang buhay at kalusugan niyo kaya dapat ibigay ng gobyerno kung ano ang dapat sa inyo,” he affirmed. 

 

The Senator had previously authored and pushed for the enactment of the Salary Standardization Law 5, which gives nurses and other civilian government employees their fifth round of salary increases broken down in tranches. He also ensured that enough funding was allocated for the implementation of a Supreme Court decision upholding Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 which increased the minimum salary grade of the Nurse I position to SG-15 in 2020, 18 years after the said law was enacted.

 

To help alleviate the pressure on health workers, Go likewise successfully pushed for the inclusion of the Professional Regulation Commission’s frontline personnel in the A4 priority group for COVID-19 vaccination last April so the licensure exams for medical graduates can proceed. 

 

On this note, the Senator strongly appealed to everyone in attendance to continue supporting the government’s efforts to mitigate, if not stop transmissions of COVID-19, to keep as many lives safe and healthy as possible. He praised the city’s high level of vaccine uptake and offered his assistance to help the local government secure more vaccines if necessary in accordance with vaccination guidelines. 

 

“Congratulations sa mataas na vaccination rate! Kung kailangan niyo ng bakuna, tutulong ako para makarating ito kaagad dito sa inyung lugar. Pakiusap ko lang sa mga hindi pa nagpapa-vaccinate, salig kamo sa bakuna. Huwag kayo matakot dahil hindi ito nakakamatay,” said Go.  

 

”Pinag-aaralan na rin ng gobyerno itong Oktubre ang magbubukas ng programa sa general public, kasama na ang mga bata from 12 to 17 years old. Ngayong, may pilot face-to-face classes, maging mas vigilant tayo at unahin natin ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he ended. 

 

The Senator's staff distributed meals, food packs, vitamins, masks, and face shields to a total of 1,848 health workers and 270 indigent patients following the ceremonies.

 

They provided selected health workers new pairs of shoes while some were given bicycles for their daily commute to work. Others also received computer tablets which their children can use for their blended learning activities. 

 

In addition, representatives from the DSWD distributed financial assistance to each indigent patient and 1,116 rank-and-file hospital employees, including janitors and security guards. 

 

Among those present were Inter-Agency Task Force - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Head Asnen Pendatun; Minister of Health Dr. Bashary Latiph; Minister of Public Works Eduard Guerra; Mayor Guiani-Sayadi; Vice Mayor Graham Guiani-Dumama; Councilor Abdillah Lim; Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao Mayor Datu Shameem Mastura; and Medical Center Chief Dr. Dimaren, and many more. 

 

After the activity, Go proceeded to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat where he joined President Rodrigo Duterte in witnessing the inauguration of the new Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital.