Bong Go proposes measures to enhance health system to aid the country during and after the pandemic; calls for unity amid the global health crisis

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go continues to push for the passage of proposed legislative measures he earlier filed in the Senate that aim to strengthen the country's healthcare system, help Filipinos get through the ongoing pandemic, and aid the country on its path towards recovery.

Health-related bills authored and filed by Go that are currently being tackled in the Senate include the Medical Reserve Corps Act, Barangay Health Workers Act, Advanced Nursing Education Act, Mandatory Quarantine Facilities Act, DOH Hospitals Rationalization Act, and an act expanding the coverage of mandatory basic immunization program, among others.

"Habang kasalukuyang ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para malampasan ang krisis na ito, ako naman, bilang isang legislator, naghain ako ng mga panukalang batas para mas mapabuti ang serbisyong pangkalusugan sa ating bansa. Ito ay para maging mas handa tayo sa kahit anumang krisis na darating," Go explained.

In a Zoom interview with Daily Tribune, Go also reminded Filipinos that they may seek assistance from Malasakit Centers all over the country. Authored and sponsored by Go and signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last year, Republic Act 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, provides that Malasakit Centers be established in all Department of Health-hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital to give convenient access to quality and affordable health care to all Filipinos.

"Dati, hindi pa po ito batas. Ngayon, batas na kailangan nang magkaroon ng Malasakit Center sa mga DOH-run hospitals, at ang mga local government hospital, meron lang requirements [para magkaroon sila ng Malasakit Centers]," Go said.

Aside from the Malasakit Center, Go, who is also chair of the Senate Committee on Health, was also instrumental in the passage of local hospital bills which will upgraded and enhanced the bed capacity and capabilities of many hospitals nationwide.

"Kailangan po ito ngayon dahil mas marami po ang mga pasyente. Sa pag-iikot ko po sa mga ward, kulang na kulang ang kama. Sa isang kama, dalawa ang pasyente. Paano gagaling ang pasyente kung dalawa sila sa isang kama? Mahirap po talaga ang sitwasyon," Go said.

Meanwhile, some non-health measures by Go which has been passed into law include the newly enacted RA 11470 which establishes the National Academy of Sports.

"Ang mga bills ko po na naipasa na, ang National Academy for Sports kung saan po isang lugar kung saan makakapag-training at mag-aaral ang mga estudyante. 'Di na maisasakripisyo ang training at pag-aaral dahil sabay na nila itong magagawa," Go explained.

A bill Go filed postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to December 2022 was also signed into law. The Senator also filed SB 200 which served as one of the bases for RA 11466, or the Salary Standardization Law of 2019, that now gives a salary increase to civilian employees in four tranches. President Duterte signed the law last January 9, 2020.

During the pandemic, Go also voted in favor of the passage of the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Bayanihan 1), which addressed the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19 in the country. Go mentioned that he expects for the Bayanihan 2 to be signed by the President this week.

Recognizing the government's need to shift its processes and transactions to e-governance due to the physical limitation imposed by the pandemic, Go has recently filed Senate Bill No. 1738, or the E-Governance Act of 2020, which mandates such transition.

"Meron po akong na-file na E-governance Act of 2020. Itong plano natin dito ay i-digitalize ang transactions sa gobyerno para mabawasan ang red tape. Kasi kadalasan, 'pag nagpa-follow up, natatagalan dahil 'di naka-online. Kailangan pa nilang pumila. Kung pwede nating i-online ang government transactions, mababawasan ang red tape at mababawasan ang hawahan dahil 'di pa normal ang sitwasyon ngayon," Go said.

Go, then, reminded all Filipinos to continue fostering the bayanihan spirit in these times of crisis. "Sa mga kababayan ko, sana po magtulungan po tayo. Sino ba naman ang magtutulungan kundi tayo lang po. Kung mag-aaway-away pa po tayo, wala pong mangyayari sa atin," Go said.

"'Wag na muna nating haluan ng pulitika ang pandemya dahil wala na tayong pag-uusapang pulitika' pag di natin nalampasan ang krisis na ito. Magtulungan muna tayo. Unahin natin ang interes, kapakanan, at buhay ng mga Pilipinong pinagsisilbihan natin," he added.