As the world celebrated Nurse Day on Monday, May 6, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go extended appreciation to Filipino nurses, here and abroad, for their tireless service and dedication.
On May 10, Go is invited to be a speaker for Philippine Nurses Association’s (PNA) 8th Summer Conference with the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future: The Economic Power of Care”. This event offers a vibrant forum for healthcare professionals, educators, leaders, and policymakers to highlight the crucial role of nurses and served as a platform to discuss better opportunities for Filipino nurses and the health sector in general.
“On this significant occasion of Nurse Day, I extend my deepest gratitude and admiration to all Filipino nurses across the globe. Your dedication, compassion, and resilience are truly inspiring, especially in these challenging times,” Go expressed.
“As frontline heroes, you represent the best of our nation, embodying selflessness and a commitment to care for others, no matter the circumstances,” he added.
As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go reiterated his commitment to prioritizing the welfare of Filipino nurses, saying, “As we celebrate your extraordinary contributions today, I reaffirm my unwavering support for your profession. I am committed to advocating for better working conditions, fair compensation, and continuous professional development for our nurses.”
“Your well-being and success are priorities for us, as they directly impact the quality of healthcare our people receive,” he cited.
Senator Go, a notable advocate for healthcare workers’ rights, highlighted his legislative achievements, including his role in the authorship and co-sponsorship of Republic Act No. 11712.
This Act is significant for providing benefits and allowances to healthcare workers during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the end of the public health emergency, Senator Go has continuously pushed to release pending health emergency allowances (HEA) to eligible healthcare professionals.
“Umapela tayong muli sa Department of Health (DOH) at Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na bilisan na ang pagre-release ng naturang HEA dahil services rendered na po ito. Ibig sabihin, utang po ito ng gobyerno sa mga HCWs,” he urged.
Moreover, Senator Go has been actively involved in initiatives to improve the compensation of government workers, having contributed to the passage of Republic Act No. 11466, also known as the Salary Standardization Law 5, as one of the authors and co-sponsors.
His ongoing efforts include advocating for another salary increase through Senate Bill No. 2504, or the “Salary Standardization Law 6,” which seeks to enhance the provisions of the previous law.
In his pursuit to uplift the nursing profession further, Senator Go has called on private hospitals to increase nurses’ salaries. He also introduced the Advanced Nursing Education bill through SBN 191, aiming to equip nurses with up-to-date knowledge and skills for better patient care, strengthening the healthcare system overall.
“Naiintindihan ko naman na may ibang nais magtrabaho sa ibang bansa dahil napakalaki talaga ng diperensya ng sweldo. Gayunpaman, bigyan natin sila ng dagdag insentibo upang magtrabaho dito sa pamamagitan ng maayos na benepisyo at tamang kompensasyon para hindi na sila mawalay sa kanilang pamilya at makatulong pa sa mga kababayan natin dito,” Go previously emphasized.
“At mayroon din po akong nai-file sa Senado, itong Advance Nursing Education Bill para po sa karagdagang curriculum upang mahikayat natin silang magtrabaho dito sa ating bansa sa pamamagitan ng community integration at immersion… karagdagang karanasan at kaalaman din iyon,” he explained.
Senator Go’s consistent advocacy and legislative actions underscore his dedication to enhancing Filipino nurses’ working conditions and professional growth at home and abroad.