SEN. Bong Go highlighted on Monday the urgent need to improve health care infrastructure for the Philippines’ most vulnerable populations during the third reading and approval of bills to upgrade local health care facilities.
During the August 12 hearing, Go thanked his colleagues for their support in passing health measures.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank this Chamber for approving the much-needed upgrade to our health care capacity. Thank you very much, my colleagues here in the Senate,” he said.
Sen. Bong Go CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
He pointed out these enhancements are especially crucial for impoverished Filipinos relying primarily on public hospitals for health care services.
“We must continue to strengthen our health care system, add beds and hospitals, and strengthen the service that our public hospitals can provide because, in truth, it is the poor who go to public hospitals,” he said.
The approved bills include House Bill (HB) 8484, introduced by Reps. Sandro Marcos, Yedda Marie Romualdez Atayde and Sharee Ann Tan-Tambut to upgrade the Bangui District Hospital in Ilocos Norte to a Level 2 District Hospital, ensuring enhanced medical services in the Northern Region.
HB 8491, introduced by Rep. Lucille Nava, proposes converting the Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital in Guimaras into a Level 2 hospital. This upgrade will significantly improve health care delivery in this island province.
HB 8492, introduced by Rep. Alfredo Benitez, seeks to establish the Victorias City General Hospital in Negros Occidental, creating a vital health care institution in the growing urban area.
HB 8494, introduced by Reps. Kristine Alexie Tutor, Edgar Mary Sarmiento and Eric Olivarez, aims to increase the bed capacity of the Teodoro B. Galagar District Hospital in Bohol from 75 to 100 beds, addressing the urgent need for more hospital beds in the region.
HB 8970, also introduced by Tutor, Sarmiento and Olivarez, focuses on expanding the Rep. Simeon G. Toribio Memorial Hospital in Bohol, from 40 to 75 beds, helping to alleviate the strain on this critical facility.
Lastly, HB 9556, introduced by Rep. Florida Robes, amends Republic Act 11272, changing the location of the planned St. Bernadette Children and Maternity Hospital in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, optimizing its impact on the local community.
Meanwhile, Go called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to better utilize its available resources, criticizing the large reserve funds sitting unused while patients suffer under the burden of hefty hospital bills.
“You have too much reserve fund. Use it for patients. Increase your case rates, expand benefit packages, and, if possible, lower your premium. The fund is just sleeping there [at] PhilHealth,” said Go.
In a public hearing on July 30 conducted by the Senate Committee on Health, which he chaired, Go made his initial call for PhilHealth to expand health care benefits, increase case rates and lower member contributions in response to revelations of excess unutilized funds.
This was after it was disclosed that PhilHealth had P90 billion in excess funds scheduled to be returned to the National Treasury, as well as around P500 billion in reserves.
“As the chairman of the committee, it is unacceptable that the PhilHealth fund is too much that is not being used, but so many Filipinos are dying and cannot receive treatment because there is no payment for the hospital,” he stated earlier.
“Let’s remember that by the Universal Health Care Law, all Filipinos are members of PhilHealth. Adequate PhilHealth funds should be used properly to benefit poor Filipinos who are sick,” he added.
“I am glad that we are taking the right steps so that we can further enhance and strengthen our health care system,” he said.
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