Press Release - Super Health Center breaks ground in Lipa City, Batangas as Bong Go continues efforts to bring public health services closer to Filipinos

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, personally witnessed the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Lipa City, Batangas on Thursday, November 16.

In his speech, Go emphasized the importance of bringing primary healthcare closer to the people. The senator, adopted son of CALABARZON with familial roots being a Tesoro from Batangas, also praised the local government of Lipa City, including Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto, Mayor Eric Africa, and Vice Mayor Camille Lopez, for their efforts to boost their community's health sector.

The Super Health Centers, championed by Go, aim to bolster grassroots healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas, by providing essential services such as primary healthcare, medical consultations, and early disease detection.

The senator expressed his confidence that these centers will help alleviate the strain on hospitals and improve overall healthcare accessibility.

"Ano po ang Super Health Center? It's a medium type of a polyclinic. Pwede na po diyan yung panganganak, dental, laboratory, x-ray at pwede po itong pagandahin ng LGU. Pwede n'yo po dagdagan ng dialysis machine. Sa Mariveles (Bataan) nilagyan nila ng dialysis machine. (Pwede rin) mag-decide si mayor palakihin (itong Super Health Center)," Go said.

"Dito na po gagawin yung Konsulta package ng PhilHealth, early disease detection. Makakatulong po ito sa ating mga kababayan. Mailalapit na po yung serbisyo medikal sa mga nangangailangan," he added.

Super Health Centers offer health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers and telemedicine.

Through Go's efforts as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and with the support of the Department of Health (DOH), LGUs and his fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds were allocated under the 2022 national budget for the construction of some 307 Super Health Centers. He was likewise successful in pushing for additional