BORONGAN CITY– Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go is pushing for additional allocations for health as the deliberations for next year’s proposed budget is now in its final deliberation.
Go, who is the chairman of the committee on health in the Senate, said on Thursday (Nov.17) that with more budget allocated to health services, the payables especially the allowances and incentives for the frontliners who sacrificed their lives to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic could be released.
‘This is just a small amount compared the services they rendered. I will fight for this,” said Go.
Go informed that the committee reports were already passed for amendments which include the salaries and benefits for health workers hired during the times of pandemic, expansion and strengthening of the epidemiology and surveillance system, for the transitioning of the COVID-19 surveillance system to regular surveillance activities.
The senator also said that the amendments also include mental health commodities under public health program in which many people were affected especially with depression, the cancer assistance fund, operation of hospital command centers, strengthening of the immunization activity of the Department of Health, and specialty hospitals like the Lung Center and the National Kidney Institute.
With a bigger budget, poor patients could also be provided with assistance, he added.
Go visited Borongan City for the distribution of livelihood assistance under the Department of Social Welfare Development sustainable livelihood program to 328 former rebels and sympathizers.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
