Sen. Bong Go visits Cebu to help quake hit communities; reminds DOH, PhilHealth to ensure health needs are met

San Remigio is a municipality of Cebu Province, 108 kilometers northwest of Cebu City.

“Nakikiusap po ako sa Department of Health (DOH) na agad mag-deploy ng mga frontliners, tulungan po iyung mga nasaktan,” Go said adding that hospitals should continue to operate. 

Senator Go earlier called on agencies of the government, including the DOH, to work together to restore normalcy in the lives of residents especially when it comes to public service delivery. 

Cebu Province has been placed under a state of calamity following the earthquake. 

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in its October 3, 6a.m. report, the number of injured people increased to 559. In addition, a total of 366,360 people, or 80,595 families, were affected by the earthquake.  

“Naniniwala ako na ang katumbas ng kalusugan ay buhay ng Pilipino. The DOH and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) must continue to deliver the healthcare needs of our people, especially the quake-hit victims,” Go said.

Go added, “PhilHealth should make sure that every Filipino who is already considered a member of PhilHealth gets to benefit from all the health programs they are entitled to.” 

Related to this, the DOH assured that zero balance billing is being enforced in state-run hospitals in Cebu.

Three government hospitals closest to quake-hit areas are already implementing the zero-balance policy, namely, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu South Medical Center, and Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital. 

Go expressed elation over this news: “I fully support the zero-balance billing policy. That has been my dream ever since, bago pa man lumindol, na mithiin at panaginip natin iyan noon pa na wala nang babayaran ang mga pasyente.”

“Makakatulong pa ang zero-balance billing para mabawasan ang pila sa Malasakit Centers which is a one-stop shop to give convenient access to medical assistance provided by the DOH, PhilHealth, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office,” Go explained.

The senator likewise called on all Filipinos to help Cebu Province recover from this tragedy. 

“Nakikiusap po ako sa mga kababayan natin, tulungan po natin ang Cebu Province, marami pong tinamaan dito, Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, Bogo City… Magtulungan po tayo, makakabangon din tayo,” Go appealed. 

Apart from San Remigio, Go visited Bogo City and Medellin in Cebu Province and extended aid to the victims.