Bong Go attends launch of 160th Malasakit Center
SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go attended the launch of the country’s 160th Malasakit Center at the Davao Occidental General Hospital in Malita on Friday, March 8.
In his speech, Go emphasized that Malasakit Centers are designed to serve all Filipinos, embodying the principle that no one should be left behind, especially in times of medical need.
“The Malasakit Center is a onestop shop. It is for the indigent patients. That is for the Filipinos,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography said.
Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health (DoH), the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the 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 (RA) 11463, or the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019,” which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
The Malasakit Center in the hospital is the first in Davao Occidental.
Go shared that other Malasakit Centers in the region are located at Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Digos City, Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City, Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center in Mati City and Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital in Montevista.
The DoH said these centers have assisted more than ten million Filipinos nationwide.
Go commended the DoH led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa as well as local officials, including Representatives Claude Bautista and Claudine Lim, Gov. Franklin Bautista, ABC President Bianca Bautista-Navarra and Vice Gov. Lorna Bandigan for their efforts to improve health care services in the province.
“I will not give up on programs that will benefit our countrymen, we will continue what we have started to bring government service to those who are in need,” he said.
Meanwhile, Go extended assistance to 130 patients and 182 frontliners. They all received rice packs, masks, vitamins, snacks, and other forms of aid while select recipients received shirts, a mobile phone, shoes, a bicycle, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
In line with his efforts to bolster the health sector at the grassroots, Go shared his support for constructing several Super Health Centers nationwide. Through the collective efforts of the DoH, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the DoH for the construction of around 700 Super Health Centers, including three in Davao Occidental.
He highlighted the recent passage of RA 11959, or the “Regional Specialty Centers Act,” which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate. The law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DoH regional hospitals.
As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also committed to help boost the province’s economic development by supporting several initiatives, such as the construction of a multipurpose building and cold storage facility in Don Marcelino, construction of a water system, evacuation center and road rehabilitation in Jose Abad Santos, and construction of an indoor sports building and road improvements in Malita.
“We will continue to serve you because we believe that service to mankind is service to the Lord, that’s a service to Allah,” Go said.