Bong Go eyes Maguindanao Malasakit Center
DATU ABDULLAH SANGKI, Maguindanao – A Malasakit Center may soon rise in Maguindanao to help its residents avail themselves of free health services.
In an interview during the 14th anniversary of this town and fourth Kagalawan Festival on Monday, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said he would assess the government provincial hospital to determine if a Malasakit Center could be put up.
“This is our program that makes it easier to get medical services like zero balance bill. It’s a one-stop shop that guides patients to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, PhilHealth, Department of Health, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office so that their medical bills would be reduced until they reach zero,” Go said.
In his third State of the Nation Address, President Duterte cited the role that Go played in establishing Malasakit Centers in the Visayas – one each in Tacloban, Iloilo and Cebu.
“This is where Malasakit can help the patients. Let’s not make things more difficult for them. When they are sick, their minds are focused on other things, so we have to help them,” Go said.
He said the government has many plans for Maguindanao, including the building of seaports, improvements in the Cotabato airport, free WiFi and farm-to-market roads.
“Of course, peace and order. It was the President’s primary promise. We are under martial law but we have not seen abuses committed by the military,” Go said.