ORMOC CITY-Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has championed a series of important health bills with the aim of improving the accessibility of government services for the Filipino people, particularly the poor and indigents.

These proposed measures seek to bridge the gap between citizens and essential healthcare, as well as enhance mental health support across communities.

The first bill, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which recently passed the Senate’s third and final reading, is currently awaiting the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Go, an author and the principal sponsor of the bill, underscored the significance of establishing specialty centers in various regions.

During his visit to this city on Friday(June 16), Go informed that if enacted, these centers would provide specialized medical services to individuals who cannot afford or travel to Metro Manila for treatment at National Specialty Centers like the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center, or National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

“With this, we can bring medical services closer to our fellow citizens who have serious illnesses but lack the means to come to Metro Manila for treatment at specialty hospitals,” the senator said.

The bill’s bicameral conference report includes provisions for establishing specialty centers within existing government-owned and controlled corporations or specialty hospitals, ensuring the availability of quality healthcare in different regions.

Furthermore, the Regional Specialty Centers Act sets clear service standards that the Department of Health (DOH) will establish in hospitals serving subnational and regional catchment populations.

The proposed measure aims to ensure that these specialty centers possess the necessary expertise and resources to effectively address patients’ specialized medical needs across the country.

It also specifies the medical specialties that the DOH will prioritize in the establishment of these centers, further streamlining the provision of specialized care.

Recognizing that a well-functioning healthcare system is essential for the country’s progress, Go also reiterated the importance of investing in health infrastructure as a vital component of national development.

He stressed that by expanding and modernizing healthcare facilities, the government can ensure that Filipinos receive timely and adequate medical attention, regardless of their location or economic status reason that he initiated early on the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide.

“Super health center is one of the methods for us to bring medical services closer to our countrymen and decongest the hospitals because there is no need to go to the hospital in the city, the primary ones can be there in the community itself with a Super Health Center,” Go explained.

According to him about 307 super health centers have been funded last year and another 322 for this year.

The super health center is a medium type of polyclinic where childbirth can take place, dental, laboratory, x-ray, and others with the local government unit to run it.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

The office of Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog Partylist Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Rep. Jude Acidre, in coordination with DSWD, has provided P10,000 cash assistance through the department’s Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program to over 125 families who were victims of the fire incident last Wednesday June 14, 2023 in Barangay Addition Hills.

The victims also received relief goods from the Speaker’s Office and Tingog Partylist. Most of the victims are currently seeking temporary shelter at the Tanglaw Covered Court in Block 19-A.

Kap. Carlito Cernal of Brgy Addition Hills expressed his gratitude to Speaker Martin Romualdez for his expedient response in assisting the victims. The 10k cash aid will be used as a starting foundation for the families who are seeking to rebuild their homes.

In his message to the families, Cong Jude Acidre hailed the strong Waray waray community in Brgy Addition Hills and assured them of the never ending support of Tingog Partylist for its constituents, may it be in Eastern Visayas or in NCR.

Cong. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales III also thanked Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Partylist for always answering the call of duty and for providing meaningful aid to those who are most in need. (PR)

To ensure the power grid’s optimal performance, transmission service provider NGCP continues to upgrade its substation facilities nationwide through its ongoing substation reliability projects.

These improvements introduced by NGCP are filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). Many of these projects were implemented from 2016 onwards but have not yet received ERC’s provisional approval. Given the operational need, NGCP proceeded with the implementation of these projects, setting aside for later, the issue on recovery approvals from the ERC. “Our priority has and will always be doing what is best for the public. Financial considerations can take a back seat and be threshed out later,” the company stressed. “We hope to correct the impression that the consumers are somehow shortchanged with how rates are computed. Our commitment has never wavered: we serve the public, and we work within the legal and regulatory framework of our concession and franchise,” NGCP emphasized.

Since taking over transmission operations in 2009, NGCP invested PhP3.289 Billion in upgrades across 15 of its substations and converter stations in Taytay, Binan, Quezon, Abaga, Mexico, San Jose, Sucat, Compostela, Davao, Ormoc, Naga, Araneta, Agus 2, Calaca, Agus 6, and Tiwi A and C. These improvements cater to the increasing load growth and reliability of the system.

NGCP also implemented its power transformer replacements to update old and aging transformers installed prior to the privatization of the transmission grid. From 2018 to 2021, NGCP replaced 33 power transformers and improved the efficiency and reliability of substation operations. Twelve transformers were replaced in North Luzon, 4 in NCR, 5 in South Luzon, 3 in Visayas, and 9 in Mindanao with a total equipment cost of US$37.7 Million or PhP1.8 Billion.

Besides this, 14 spare power transformers worth US$14.6 Million or PhP764 Million were also delivered to 6 substations in North Luzon, 5 in South Luzon, 1 in Visayas, and 2 in Mindanao.

NGCP also constantly prepares for possible effects of man-made and natural calamities that may affect the continuous transmission of power. The company included the procurement of mobile transformer units that can be moved, installed, and energized within the region in less than 36 hours to restore power serving specific localities. Four mobile transformer units worth US$12.1 Million or PhP612 Million have been delivered to substations in Mexico in Pampanga, Daraga in Albay, Cadiz in Bacolod, and in South Cotabato.

“The company continually implements projects to improve substation operations for the efficient and reliable delivery of power. NGCP invests in the best technology to better serve its customers,” said NGCP. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez (4th district) is thankful that the sports facility for modern pentathlon and fencing is already completed and can now be used by their athletes.

The construction of the P35 million worth facility was funded by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go who happened to be the chairman of the committee on sports.
Construction started last year and was completed last month.

“Ang impact nito is more than local, it’s international. We train our Ormocanon athletes to become players to a national level,” Rep. Gomez said.

Sen. Go led the inauguration of the said sporting facility on Friday (June 16) together with Rep. Gomez and City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez and other city officials.

Gomez noted the recent feat of Ormoc athletes in the UIPM 2023 Asia and Southeast Asia Championship of Laser Run and Triathlete in Pattaya, Thailand where they hauled seven gold and two silver medals.

The UIPM 2023 is a three-day event with over 80 athletes from 15 competing nations participating in the international sports competition.

“Ganun kaganda ang sports program nation when it comes to modern pentathlon. We take pride in that, it’s not just on modern pentathlon but in other sports as well,” Gomez added.
Gomez also noted the recent achievement of their athletes at the recently-concluded Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association where they again landed in first place, besting 12 other school divisions in the region.

Aside from the fencing and modern pentathlon facility, Gomez shares that Sen. Go is also funding the construction of BMX and Skateboard Park in the city.

In his visit to the fencing hall, Sen. Go reminded the athletes, who are composed of elementary and secondary students, to always do their best when they are in competition.
“(And) I am always ready to assist athletes, especially the youth who are our future,” Sen. Go said.

He also reminded the athletes to study well and train properly and avoid doing vices like illegal drugs to ensure that they will have a better future. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)