Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go appealed to the country’s next leaders to continue programs implemented by the administration of President Duterte so that they benefit more Filipinos in the future.

In an interview after providing assistance to residents of the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte on Wednesday, March 30, Go urged the next administration to keep public services that aim to provide a comfortable life for all Filipinos, such as healthcare, as a top priority.

“So, ako pakiusap ko lang sa next president, bigyan niyo ng priority at tulungan ninyo ang ating healthcare services lalo na 'yung mga mahihirap na walang malapitan (So, my only appeal to the next President is for him to prioritize and help our healthcare services especially the poor who have no one to turn to),” Go said.

“Ngayon, itong Malasakit Center, batas na ito at pirmado ni Presidente Duterte at mandato ng Malasakit Centers Act ay maglagay ng Malasakit Center sa mga DOH-run (Department of Health) hospital, government hospital, basta sumunod lang sila sa criteria set by the law (Now, this Malasakit Center, this is already a law signed by President Duterte and the mandate of the Malasakit Center Act is to establish Malasakit Center in the DOH-run (Department of Health) hospitals, government hospitals, and they just follow the criteria set by the law),” he added.

During his stint as Special Assistant to the President, Go opened the pioneering Malasakit Center in Cebu City in 2018 with the aim of expanding access to health care for particularly poor and financially incapacitated patients.

He then authored and sponsored the measure that became Republic Act (RA) 11463, known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, upon winning a seat in the Senate. It was eventually signed into law by Duterte in 2019.

The Act mandates all DOH-run hospitals to establish their own Malasakit Center. 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.

He also urged incoming leaders to keep expanding the number of Malasakit Centers across the country, saying that it is in the best interests of all Filipinos.

Go, on the other hand, asked Filipinos to work with the country’s future leaders in order for them to do a good job of serving the people.

“Ang gobyerno ni Presidente Duterte ay para sa mga hopeless, sa mga helpless. Kaya ako ang pakiusap ko lang, tulungan natin at sa next administration magtulungan lang tayo para sa ikaayos at makakatulong sa mga mahihirap (The government of President Duterte is for the hopeless, the helpless. I am appealing to the next administration to prioritize the welfare of the poor),” he said.

“Kung ano po ‘yung makakatulong sa mga mahihirap iyon po ang ipagpapatuloy kong isulong bilang isang senador... ipagpapatuloy ko ‘yung mga programang nakakatulong katulad ng Malasakit Center (As a senator, I will continue to push for the legislations that will benefit the poor...I will continue to support the programs such as the Malasakit Center ),” he added.