Southern Leyte opens Malasakit Center

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – Residents of Southern Leyte will now have easier access to health services with the opening of the first provincial Malasakit Center in President Duterte’s birthplace.

Last Saturday, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, together with Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino led the launching of Malasakit Center at the Salvacion Oppus-Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital.

The center brings together the services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth).

“It’s a one-stop-shop for our brothers and sisters here in Southern Leyte, which will cover their hospital bills to make it zero; second, the senior citizens and PWDs will have a priority lane, and the third is that you only need to be a Filipino citizen,” Go shared.

He also turned over a check for P5-million in support to the hospital’s operation.

Southern Leyte Governor Christopherson Yap said the center will be the President’s legacy for the province.

“It makes matters easier to everyone who wants to avail of the services because there is an office of the President which provides efficient service that everyone can take advantage,” he said.

He added that as part of putting premium to health, they have modified the program by procuring a coaster that would transport patients with the same illnesses every week from different areas to avail of free checkup and other medical services.

“We want the people to feel that this center is for everyone not just for the people who are near the city. Before we can position our self as economically viable to any market, we have to also take care of our human resources,” he stressed.

The province has an existing medical scholarship for aspiring doctors in answer to their need for local doctors.