SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go visited the Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City, Samar on Friday, August 11, to personally inspect the operations of the Malasakit Center, a facility that provides streamlined medical assistance, particularly to indigent Filipinos.
Go, who toured the hospital along with Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Congresswoman Angelica Natasha Co of BHW Partylist, underscored the vital role of the centers in ensuring that underprivileged individuals have access to necessary healthcare services.
“Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa mga proyektong naitulong namin. Sa totoo lang po, kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo. Maraming, maraming salamat po. Hinding-hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataong ibinigay ninyo sa akin,” said Go.
The Malasakit Center, a program initiated by the senator, serves as a one-stop-shop for medical assistance and services. It aims to ease the financial burden on patients by facilitating the coordination of resources from various government agencies, such as the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). The center simplifies the process of availing government’s medical assistance, thereby saving time and effort for patients and their families.
Under Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored, every DOH-run hospital, plus the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City, are mandated to have their own Malasakit Center. Other public hospitals may also have a Malasakit Center upon assessment of DOH to ensure they meet the criteria provided in the law. There are now 158 operational centers across the country.
During his visit, Go listened to the stories of individuals who have benefited from the services provided by the Malasakit Center. The senator expressed his satisfaction with the center’s operations and its significant impact on the lives of marginalized Filipinos.
The senator also extended support to 256 patients and 573 frontliners, including security guards, utilities, and hospital staff. The assistance included essential items like grocery packs, masks, vitamins, shirts, and snacks. In addition, select beneficiaries received items such as bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, watches and basketballs.
Furthermore, representatives from the DSWD were also present to provide financial aid to eligible patients.
For her part, Gov. Sharee Ann Tan also took the opportunity to thank the senator and share some initiatives that Go did to help the province of Samar and its people. Among these are his efforts during times of crises as well as key infrastructure projects that Go was instrumental in ensuring funding for.
“Mga kaibigan ko, kasama din natin ngayon na palaging tumutulong sa atin, hindi lang sa suporta niya sa ating Catbalogan Buri Airport na ating inilapit sa kanya nung panahon na pumunta siya sa atin noong tayo ay nasunugan dito sa Catbalogan noong 2018 kahit hindi pa siya senador. Pati ang ating Lagundi San Andres Road ay tulong rin yan ng ating mahal na Senator (Bong Go). Ganyan niya tayo kamahal dito sa atin. Kasama din ang iba’t ibang mga kalsada at impastraktura, naging instrumento rin siya para maisakatuparan ang mga ito. Mula noon at hanggang ngayon, patuloy niyang inilalapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa atin. These are few of the contributions of the good Senator here in the province of Samar,” Gov. Tan shared.
“Ang pinakamalaking naitulong niya ay ang Malasakit Center. Bago pa lang ang mahal nating senator, sinigurado niya na maipagpatuloy ang pagbigay ng tulong at serbisyo sa mga pasyente dito sa pamamagitan ng Malasakit Center. Ngayon mga kaibigan ko, gusto kong ipaabot sa inyo na we are so honored and we really appreciate the efforts and support of our good senator, ang kilala nating Mr. Malasakit,” the governor added.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, continues to emphasize his commitment to enhancing healthcare assistance for the disadvantaged sectors of society. He stressed the importance of investing in healthcare infrastructure, services, and programs that directly benefit the poor and indigent citizens.
“Huwag nating kalimutang pasalamatan ang ating mga medical frontliners sa panahon ng pandemya. Sila po ang nagsakripisyo, ang iba po sa kanila ay nagbuwis ng buhay. Palakpakan po natin ang ating mga medical workers. Lahat, kasama na diyan ang janitor, security. Alam n’yo ‘pag pumasok ka sa ospital exposed ka sa COVID-19,” Go cited.