MANILA, Philippines — Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go sponsored two more local hospital bills to further improve the delivery of medical and healthcare services especially in the provinces to boost the country’s efforts against COVID-19.
During the plenary session of the Senate on Monday, June 1, Go sponsored and sought the Chamber’s support for the immediate passage of House Bill 6036 and HB 6144.
“As we face the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to improve our government health facilities.”
senator bong go
HB 6036 aims to increase the bed capacity of Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center (LPGH-STC) from 200 to 500 beds, and upgrade its service facilities and professional healthcare services, while House Bill 6144 seeks to increase the bed capacity of the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Tuguegarao City.
The Senator cited that in 2018, almost 65% or 284 out of 437 public hospitals were already over its limit in terms of bed capacity and patient admittance. These issues concerning the overcrowding in public hospitals surfaced even more as the country faces the health crisis. According to Go, this “has been one of the weaknesses of our health care system.”
Last May 27, Senator Go also sponsored five local bills to establish the Bicol Women’s and Children’s Hospital (Camarines Sur), and further capacitate Quirino Memorial Medical Center (Quezon City), Western Visayas Medical Center (Iloilo City), Siargao District Hospital (Surigao del Norte) and Malita District Hospital (Davao Occidental).
Go also said that these legislative measures will boost the capacity of hospitals, especially in the provinces. Go added that this will complement the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program, citing that most modern hospitals are located in Metro Manila where people migrate in order to be treated.
“We aim to capacitate our government hospitals, especially in the provinces. This is also in line with the Balik Probinsiya initiative of the government,” he said.
“Once we have well-equipped hospitals with increased bed capacities in the provinces, sufficient medical workers, and proper protocols in place for future health emergencies, we can assure Filipinos that a better life is waiting for them wherever they are in the country.”