Davao City -The opening of the Tibungco Super Health Center in Barangay Tibungco marks a milestone in bringing accessible healthcare closer to residents of Davao City. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go joined local officials, health workers, and residents during the blessing and turnover of the facility on Tuesday, October 27, underscoring the importance of strengthening primary healthcare services at the grassroots level.
Located in Bunawan District, within Davao City’s 2nd Congressional District, Barangay Tibungco is a busy community where residents face considerable challenges in accessing hospital services due to distance and traffic.
“Kaning proyektuha, dugay-dugay na ni nga atong gi duso sauna kay ako man ang Chairman sauna sa Committee on Health for six years. Proyekto ni siya sa DOH tapos iturn-over na sa LGU, kay mayor ug kay Dra. Rubio. Sila na’y magdala ani, sila na’y mu-provide og mga gamit, personnel, mga doctor ug uban pa,” he said.
(Itong proyekto na ito, matagal tagal na nga ito 2023 pa dahil ako ang chairman ng Committee on Health for six years. Proyekto ito ng DOH tapos na turnover na sa LGU, kay mayor at Dra. Rubio, sila na ang mamamahala nito at sila magpo-provide ng gamit at iba pa personnel at mga doctor.)
Go emphasized the importance of cooperation between the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGUs) in ensuring that Super Health Centers become fully operational and responsive to the needs of their communities.
“Pag nagtinabangay ang DOH ug LGU, mao na, mahimong operational ang atong mga Super Health Centers… nalipay sad ko nga gibutangan og mga Super Health Centers sa mga strategic areas sama sa Tibungco. Ang Tibungco, layo baya ni sa ospital,” he added.
(Kapag nagtulungan ang DOH at LGU, magiging operational ang ating mga Super Health Center… masaya ako na nilagyan ng mga Super Health Center sa mga strategic areas kagaya sa Tibungco. Ang Tibungco, napakalayo pa naman nito sa hospital.)
Super Health Centers are designed to provide primary healthcare services, medical consultations, and early disease detection, particularly in underserved communities.
Through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), eligible and enrolled members can also access covered primary healthcare services, including consultations and other basic medical services, subject to program guidelines.
Go, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and a health reform crusader, highlighted the collective efforts of lawmakers, the DOH, and LGUs in securing funding for the establishment of more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including 11 in Davao City.
The Brgy. Tibungco facility is the fifth Super Health Center recently turned over in Mindanao. On October 21, a Super Health Center in Malabog, Davao City, was turned over; followed by facilities in Mulig, Davao City, on October 22; Baganga, Davao Oriental, on October 24; and Valencia City on October 26.
Beyond healthcare delivery, Go also expressed gratitude to local leaders and the Duterte family for their support, crediting their trust and assistance for his electoral success in Davao City.
“Gusto lang nako pagpasalamat sa inyong tanan ilabi na sa pamilya Duterte gikan kay Tatay Digong sauna pa man, padulong kay Mayor Baste Duterte, VP Inday Sara Duterte, kay Congressman Pulong. Dili ko mahimong number one Senator katong 2025 election kung dili tungod sa ilahang suporta ug pagpangampanya sa amo,” he expressed.
(Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa inyong lahat lalo na sa pamilya Duterte mula kay Tatay Digong noon pa hanggang kay Mayor Baste Duterte, VP Inday Sara Duterte at kay Cong. Pulong. Hindi ako magiging number one senator noong 2025 dito sa Davao kung hindi dahil sa pagsuporta sa akin at pagkampaniya sa amin.)
He also recalled the advice he received from former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Si Tatay Digong sauna dili siya manghilabo basta ang iya lang gi tugon, ‘just do what is right’ at hinding-hindi ka magkakamali,” he shared.
(Si Tatay Digong noong hindi talaga sya nakikialam sa amin basta magtrabaho lang kami ang kanya lang paalala just do what is right gawin mo lang ang tama hindi ka magkakamali.)
Go said that this lesson shaped his commitment to personally visit communities affected by disasters and other emergencies, following the example set by Duterte during his years in local government.
Go added, “Ako ning natun-an. Mangutana sila, ngano man ka muadto sa mga sunog, lindog, baha, nasunugan? Kay ingana man sauna sa lokal si Tatay Digong. Gidala niya sa Maynila, sa national ug dili namo maagwanta na maglingkod lang sa opisina samtang naay mga kababayan nga nanginahanglan.”
(‘Yan ang aking natutunan kaya nagtataka sila bakit ka pumupunta sa mga nasunugan, baha, lindol, putok ng bulkan dahil ganyan pa man noon sa local si Tatay Digong dinala niya sa Maynila sa national at hindi ko matiis na nakaupo lang sa opisina habang nangangailangan ng tulong ang mga kababayan nating Pilipino.)
As part of his continuing assistance to communities, Go and his Malasakit Team distributed food packs, snacks, shirts, pens, fans, and basketballs and volleyballs to attendees. Some beneficiaries also received watches.
During the event, Go provided a wheelchair to Lemuel Cabrera, a person with disability, to help address his mobility needs. Another patient, identified as Jhanny Fabiana also received crutches.
Go likewise acknowledged Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte III, Councilors Richly “Che-che” Justol, Danilo Dayanghirang, Ralph Abella, Enzo Villafuerte, and Trisha Villafuerte, as well as Barangay Tibungco Captain Merhade Calvo and other local officials, for their support of the project.
On the same day, Go also attended the blessing and turnover of the Community Rehabilitation Center for Stroke Patients, located beside the newly turned-over Super Health Center. The two facilities are expected to complement local healthcare services by bringing medical care and rehabilitation support closer to residents of Davao City.
“Ako ang inyong Senator Kuya Bong Go patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo yan sa Diyos. Maraming salamat at mahal namin kayong lahat,” he concluded.
