The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go demonstrated its commitment to helping those in need by distributing much-needed assistance to indigent residents of Calumpit, Bulacan, on Wednesday, November 20.
Held at Calumpit Municipal Gym, Go’s team distributed snacks, vitamins, masks, shirts, fans, basketballs, and volleyballs to 175 struggling residents. They also gave away pairs of shoes and a mobile phone to select individuals.
Meanwhile, through Go’s collaboration with local leaders, the national government also provided financial assistance to the beneficiaries.
As the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and a health reform crusader, Go urged the beneficiaries to utilize the services of the Malasakit Centers at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos City, Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital in Sta. Maria, Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte in San Jose del Monte City, and Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bocaue.
Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. To date, 166 operational centers have helped more than 15 million Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH.
“Sa mga pasyente, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ‘to sa inyo. Kung may hospital bill kayo, nandiyan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para mabayaran ito,” said Go.
The senator then reiterated his commitment to supporting the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country, considering how they can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing government medical services closer to the grassroots.
“Patuloy po akong tutulong sa pagpaparami ng Super Health Centers sa bansa sa abot po ng aking makakaya,” said Go.
“Sa mga itinayo ng Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad lalo na sa rural areas. ‘Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” he added.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 700 centers. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.
In the province, DOH has identified strategic locations to establish Super Health Centers, including the cities of Baliuag, Meycauayan, and San Jose del Monte; and the towns of Angat, Balagtas, Bulakan, Pandi, San Miguel, Guiguinto, Marilao, Obando, Paombong, Plaridel, San Ildefonso, and San Rafael.
Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.