Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, Oct. 5 assured Filipinos that Malasakit Centers continue to be operational to improve access to healthcare, particularly in the face of the existing pandemic.
During the submission of his Certificate of Candidacy for his vice presidential bid in the 2022 n national and local elections on October 2, Go vowed for a speedier and more efficient delivery of services in these centers.
“Sisiguraduhin nating magiging mabilis, maayos at abot-kaya ang serbisyong pangkalusugan tulad ng naibibigay na tulong ng Malasakit Centers sa mga nangangailangan (We will ensure that health services, are faster, better and affordable similar to the assistance provided by the Malasakit Centers to those in need),” Go said.
Go, who is the main proponent of the Malasakit Centers initiative, principally authored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which was eventually signed into law by President Duterte. He is considered as the Father of the Malasakit Centers program now institutionalized by Republic Act (RA) 11463.
The centers are one-stop shops for all government medical assistance programs, putting together the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and PhilHealth under one roof, making it convenient for particularly poor and indigent Filipinos to access medical care.
At present, there are 141 Malasakit Centers operating in the country.
The law mandates all DOH-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to establish their own Malasakit Centers. Other public hospitals, including those run by local government units, may also open their own provided they meet a standard set of criteria to ensure the sustainability of its operations.
“Noong naging Senador po ako, isinulong ko ito sa lehislatibo, pinirmahan ni Pangulong Duterte noong 2019, at ganap na batas na po ito ngayon (When I became a senator, I pushed this in the legislative (branch) and it was signed by President Duterte in 2019. It is now a law),” Go said during the launch of the Malasakit Center in West Visayas State University Medical Center in Jaro, Iloilo City on Thursday, September 16.
Go said that throughout his more than 20 years in public service, he has seen firsthand how difficult it is for underserved individuals to receive medical care.
This prompted him to open Cebu City’s first Malasakit Center in 2018.
“Wala ‘tong pinipili. Basta Pilipino at poor o indigent patient ka, qualified ka sa Malasakit Center. Kung tatanggihan kayo, sabihin niyo, ‘karapatan ko ito bilang Pilipino’. Pera niyo ito na binabalik lang namin sa pamamagitan ng maayos na serbisyo (There is no favoritism. If you are a Filipino and poor or indigent patient, you are qualified in Malasakit Center. If they will refuse you, tell them that this is your right as a Filipino. This is your money and we are returning it back to you by means of better service),” he added.
The senator from Davao then pledged to keep fighting for better healthcare for all Filipinos, particularly those in low-income, remote, and rural communities.
“Bukas ang opisina namin ni Pangulo kung may gusto kayong hingin na tulong (My office and that of the President are open if you want ask for help),” he said.
“Hindi kami mangangako ng hindi namin kaya pero gagawin namin ang lahat para tulungan kayo. Lalo na nasa gitna tayo ng krisis, panahon ito para magmalasakit sa ating kapwa (We are not promising something that we cannot fulfill, we will do everything to help you. We are now in a midst of a crisis, it is time for caring to one another ),” he said.
Before being elected as a senator, Go served as the Special Assistant to the President.
Citing that a Senator’s job is not limited to legislation only, Go said he has been at the forefront providing representation and constituency services around the country, listening to the pleas of the most ordinary Filipinos, bringing assistance particularly in the midst of the pandemic.
“I will continue to serve especially those who need government attention the most — yung mga mahihirap po (the poor). I am determined to fulfill my role as a bridge for the poor, the needy, the hopeless and the helpless — connecting them to their government so that their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed during these trying times,” he added.