MANILA — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is renewing his call for the establishment of halfway houses (temporary shelters or recovery homes) near major government hospitals to provide free or low-cost accommodation for indigent patients and their families who need extended medical care.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, made the push during a January 10, 2026, interview, emphasizing that many poor Filipinos from provinces are forced to sleep on hospital sidewalks, benches, or nearby streets while waiting for treatment or follow-up procedures.
Why Halfway Houses Are Needed
- Many patients come from far-flung areas and cannot afford hotels or boarding houses.
- Treatment often requires multiple visits (chemotherapy, dialysis, surgery follow-ups).
- Current situation exposes vulnerable patients (elderly, children, cancer patients) to weather, security risks, and health hazards.
- Go cited examples from Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and regional hospitals.
Go’s Proposal Highlights
- Location: Within or very near major DOH-retained hospitals (PGH, specialty centers) and regional medical centers.
- Capacity: Small-scale facilities (20–50 beds per hospital) with basic amenities (beds, bathrooms, kitchenettes).
- Funding: Propose inclusion in the Department of Health (DOH) budget or through public-private partnerships.
- Management: Run by DOH, LGUs, or accredited NGOs with strict accountability.
- Target Beneficiaries: Indigent patients and companions, with priority for cancer, kidney, heart, and other chronic illness cases.
Go has filed several bills since 2019 (e.g., Senate Bill No. 1234 – Halfway House Act) to institutionalize the program, but progress has been slow. He urged Congress and the executive to prioritize it in the 2027 national budget.
The senator stressed:
“Hindi sapat ang libreng gamot o operasyon kung matutulog pa rin sila sa kalye. Dapat may lugar silang matitirhan nang ligtas at disente habang nagpapagamot.”
Here are some photos showing the current reality outside major government hospitals (sidewalk sleeping, makeshift shelters) and conceptual designs of proposed halfway houses.
A much-needed reform — providing dignity and support for the poorest patients.