Senator Bong Go continues hospital feeding initiative rooted in practical support for patients and frontliners

What began as a simple effort to ensure that hospital patients and their companions would have something to eat has grown into a sustained outreach activity of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

From February 23 to 27, his office continued its feeding initiative in public hospitals across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—serving warm meals to patients, watchers, and healthcare workers.

According to Go, the initiative started from a practical observation: many families who seek treatment in government hospitals often budget only for transportation, medicines, or laboratory fees, leaving little for food while staying in hospital corridors for hours or even days.

“May mga pasyente at bantay na sapat lang ang dala para sa pamasahe at gamot. Kung makakatulong tayo na may makain sila habang naghihintay, malaking bagay na iyon,” he said. 

Over time, the program also expanded to include medical frontliners who work long shifts and may not always have the opportunity to step away for meals.

In Metro Manila, feeding activities were conducted at Ospital ng Muntinlupa and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), both in Muntinlupa City.

Across Luzon, several provinces were covered. In Laguna, meals were distributed at Laguna Medical Center in Sta. Cruz and San Pablo City General Hospital in San Pablo City. In Cavite, the initiative reached General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital in Trece Martires City, while in Batangas, it was conducted at Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery and Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City.

Further north, feeding efforts were carried out at Baguio General Hospital and Benguet General Hospital in Benguet; Far North Luzon General Hospital in Luna and Conner District Hospital in Conner, Apayao; Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Tabuk, Kalinga; Bontoc General Hospital in Bontoc, Mountain Province; and Luis Hora Memorial Hospital in Bauko, Mountain Province.

In the Visayas, the program covered Leyte Provincial Hospital in Palo, Leyte; Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center in Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Don Jose Monfort Medical Center in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo; Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; and Northern Samar Provincial Hospital in Catarman, Northern Samar.

In Mindanao, the feeding initiative continued at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City, one of the country’s largest government hospitals.

Go emphasized that the program remains grounded in its original purpose: to provide something immediate and useful to people inside hospitals. 

Many of these hospitals are also equipped with Malasakit Centers, which streamline medical assistance for indigent patients by bringing together relevant government agencies in one location. While Malasakit Centers help address hospital expenses, the feeding initiative focuses on the daily realities faced by patients, watchers, and hospital staff.

Through these continuing efforts, Senator Go’s office maintains a practical approach to public service—addressing both financial and everyday needs within public healthcare institutions.

###