T HE Senate on Thursday passed on second reading 30 bills aimed at improving, developing and establishing public hospitals in different parts of the country.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairman of the Committee on Health and Demography, sponsored these bills, stressing the need to continue building on the progress made by the country to improve its health care system in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Una po sa lahat, natutuwa po ako sa patuloy na pag-improve ng ating Covid-19 situation. Nasa minimal risk case classification na po ang karamihan sa mga rehiyon. Majority din sa mga siyudad at bayan sa bansa ay nasa Alert Level 1 na (First of all, I am glad with the continued improvement of our Covid-19 situation. Most of the regions are now under the minimal risk case classification. Also, the majority of the cities and municipalities across the country are already under Alert Level 1),” Go said previously in his sponsorship speech.

“Huwag natin sayangin ang pagsisikap at sakripisyo ng ating mga kawani sa gobyerno, health care workers, frontliners, at higit sa lahat, ang kooperasyon at disiplina ng bawat Pilipino (Let us not waste the effort and sacrifice of our state workers, health care workers, frontliners, and most of all, the cooperation and discipline of every Filipino),” he added.

Among the bills that passed second reading were measures upgrading government health facilities sponsored by Go during the session which includes increasing the bed capacity of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in Baguio City; Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Gov. Faustino N. Dy Sr. Memorial Hospital in Ilagan City, Isabela; Concepcion District Hospital in Concepcion, Tarlac; Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Negros Occidental; Unayan Municipal Hospital in Binidayan, Lanao del Sur; Balindong District Hospital in Wato-Balindong, Lanao del Sur; Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug, Pangasinan; Laurel Memorial District Hospital in Tanauan City, Batangas; Ilocos Sur District Hospital in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur; Mangatarem District Hospital in Mangatarem, Pangasinan; Congressman Natalio O. Castillo Sr. Memorial Hospital in Loon, Bohol; Roxas District Hospital in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro; Dr. Serapio B. Montaner Jr. Memorial Hospital in Malabang, Lanao del Sur; Martin Marasigan Memorial Hospital in Cuenca, Batangas; and Lingayen District Hospital in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Bills converting the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, to the Governor Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Complex; and the Oriental Mindoro Central District Hospital in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, into a provincial hospital also hurdled second reading in the Senate.

Likewise, the Senate also approved on second reading bills upgrading the Lipa City District Hospital in Lipa City, Batangas into a Level 2 Hospital; Orani District Hospital in Orani, Bataan into a Level 2 General Hospital to be known as the Antonino P. Roman Memorial Hospital; and the Novaliches District Hospital in Quezon City into a Level 2 Hospital.

Other bills approved on second reading include measures establishing more and improved government hospitals, such as Ospital ng Meycauayan in Meycauayan, Bulacan; Iloilo City Hospital in Iloilo City; Liloan Children’s Hospital in Liloan, Cebu; Aklan Geriatric Medical Center in Kalibo, Aklan; Isaac Tolentino Memorial Medical Center in Tagaytay City, Cavite; Panabo City District Hospital in Panabo City, Davao del Norte; Lamidan Community Hospital in Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; and the Nuing Community Hospital in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.

In his previous pronouncements, Go noted that the need to increase the hospital bed capacity of most public hospitals has been a challenge during the public health crisis, prompting authorities to establish modular hospitals.

It is for these reasons that Go stressed that improving health capacity and delivery in the provinces would help enhance the health and overall well-being of all Filipinos.

He emphasized that Filipino families must be able to enjoy easy access to responsive health care systems even in the provinces and rural areas.