SEN. Bong Go reaffirmed his commitment to health and elderly care.

During the Annual General Assembly of the Abraham Senior Citizens Association on Tuesday at the Parañaque Sports Complex, Go expressed a deep personal connection to the elderly community.

"If there is no grandparent, there is no child. Without a father and mother, there is no us. That is why we Filipinos take care of our grandparents," Go said in Filipino.

"As a senator for almost six years, since 2019, I have authored 16 laws. I have principally sponsored 82 laws — 80 of which are for establishing or expanding public hospitals ... and I also co-authored or co-sponsored 186 other laws."

"And I have never been absent from the Senate even for a single session ... I consistently serve our fellow Filipinos to the best of my ability," he said.

Go focused on three laws he pursued that were tailored to the needs of elderly and vulnerable Filipinos. Among them was Republic Act (RA) 11982 or the Amendments to the Centenarian Act, which he co-authored and co-sponsored.

"We don't need to reach 100 years. So, starting at 80, 85, 90, 95, we can now receive a cash gift from the government," he said.

The cash gift is more than just assistance — it is recognition of a lifetime of hard work, family-building, and quiet contributions to the nation, he said.

He then turned to the plight of indigent seniors, emphasizing another law he helped push forward. "And of course, we have not forgotten the senior citizens who are indigent and struggling. I am one of the co-authors of RA 11916, or the one who amended it in the Senior Citizens Act to increase the social pension that indigent senior citizens will receive."

Transitioning to broader health care issues, Go reiterated that his work in the Senate remains anchored on accessible medical services for all.

"As chair of the Committee on Health, I will promote the medical service programs that we will bring to our countrymen, such as the Malasakit Center, the Super Health Center, and the Regional Specialty Center," he said.

He emphasized the institutionalization of the Malasakit Centers through Republic Act 11463. There are 167 such centers throughout the country he said.

Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops for government medical assistance programs in select public hospitals. According to the Department of Health (DoH), the Malasakit Center program has provided aid to more than 17 million Filipinos.

The Super Health Center, on the other hand, is "a medium-type or polyclinic" which can provide birth, tests, laboratory, X-ray, and consultation, Go said.

He said centers result from the close coordination between his office, fellow lawmakers, the DOH led by Secretary Ted Herbosa, and local government units.

Go also highlighted his role in RA 11959, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors of.

The law mandates the establishment of specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals, bringing advanced care closer to the provinces.

"Because of the Regional Specialty Centers Law, there will also be Geriatric Care centers in selected regional hospitals to take care of the health of our senior citizens," Go said.

Go also made an emotional plea for prayers and support for former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is also a senior citizen facing health challenges while being detained in The Hague while awaiting trial for crimes against humanity in connection with his war on drugs.