Bong Go: rejuvenating healthcare services after COVID-19 crisis and making them affordable and accessible in the countryside must be prioritized as preparations for 'Balik Probinsya program' are underway

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Monday, May 4, reiterated the importance of ensuring quick and responsive healthcare to the people in the countryside in order for the proposed 'Balik Probinsya program' to be implemented successfully.

"Dapat rin paghandaan ang kakayahan ng sektor ng kalusugan sa mga probinsya na maalagaan ang mga lilipat sa lugar nila. Dapat siguraduhin ng DOH na maisaayos muli ang mga health care facilities pagkatapos malampasan ang COVID-19 crisis," Go explained.

Accessible and affordable quality heathcare services will provide the people with added security and will eliminate the need for them to travel to metropolitan areas just to seek proper health care, according to the Senator.

"Mahalaga po na matugunan ng gobyerno ang mga pangangailangang medikal ng mga kababayan natin sa mga probinsya upang mahikayat po sila na manatili roon at maging matagumpay po ang pagpapatupad natin ng 'Balik Probinsya' program," Go said.

While much work needs to be done to address the requirements of the program in terms of health care, Go assured that the Department of Health is doing its best to enhance its programs and promote the well-being of all Filipino citizens, wherever they are in the country.

"Patuloy ang pagpapabuti sa mga serbisyo at programa ng DOH para masigurado ang kalusugan ng ating mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng mga programa, katulad ng Medical Scholarship Program upang masiguro nating merong mga doktor sa bawat baryo sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaaral ng gobyerno sa mga qualified na mga medical students," he said.

"Mayroon din po silang Human Resources for Health Deployment Program para sa sapat na bilang ng mga doktor, nurses, midwives and other health workers, lalo na sa mga lugar na walang barangay health workers, mga liblib at disadvantaged na mga lugar, indigenous peoples communities, at iba pa," he added.

Go also cited DOH programs that can be further enhanced, such as the Health Facilities Enhancement Program and the Botika ng Barangay Program which address other healthcare needs of the Filipinos in terms of infrastructure and medicine.

To bolster the efforts of the health department, Go suggested the need to provide additional funding for the HFEP program, improve health emergency services by providing ambulances for all towns, ensure proper health care and improve health capacity by building more hospitals and clinics, among others.

"Sa kabila nito, kailangan pa pong mas paigtingin ang suporta sa departamento upang magawa nito ang kanilang iba pang immediate, mediate at long-term plans para sa sistematikong pag-implementa ng Balik Probinsya program," he added.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has expressed support to 'Balik Probinsya', saying that congestion in urban centers does increase the risk of an outbreak of a disease.

"Maganda na programa ito. Sana ay maisakatuparan natin... Makikita naman sa ibabaw ng measles, dengue, polio, ay nagkaroon na tayo ng COVID-19, at hindi natin masasabi kung ano na namang epidemya na bago ang darating," Duque explained.

"At nakakatakot talaga ang mga urban poor (areas) dahil, malinaw ang sinabi ni Sen. Bong (Go), na dahil siksikan ang mga tao, ang lipatan ng sakit ay mas napabilis. Kung mas maaga nating magagawa ito ay malaking tulong para sa ating mga kababayan at ganun din po sa gastusin pagdating sa pamamahala ng mga epidemya... malaking tulong ito sa ating gobyerno," he added.

Earlier, Go proposed the implementation of the "Balik Probinsiya" program to solve decongestion in Metro Manila which has been found to exacerbate the impact of pandemics, such as the current COVID-19 emergency.

"Dahil sa dikit-dikit na mga bahay, pagkumpol kumpol ng mga tao, mas madaling kumalat ang sakit sa Metro Manila. Halos 70% ng mga kaso ng mga impeksyon at mga namatay dahil sa COVID-19 ay nasa Metro Manila," he said.

Go added that despite the huge number of hospitals and other medical facilities found in Metro Manila, the existing public health structure is still struggling to cope with surge capacity due to the sheer number of individuals needing their services.

"Dahil sa sobrang daming kaso ng COVID-19 sa NCR, pahirapan na ang mga ospital. Kinukulang na sila sa mga personahe, mga kagamitan at maging hospital beds. Kaya maraming mga naibabalitang mga kaso na namamatay na mga pasyente dahil hindi na tinatanggap ng maraming ospital," said Go.

By decentralizing the structure of governance and devolving responsibilities between the central and local governments, Go also explained that future pandemics will be handled more efficiently and effectively by the government.

"Dahil masyado pa ring centralized ang bureaucracy at ang ating sistema sa pamamahala, naka-apekto rin ito sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo," Go said.

"Devolving further the manner and approach of our government in providing essential services will lead to faster response to the needs of our people," he ended.