Mindoro Oriental gets own Malasakit Center
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go virtually attended the opening of the country’s 83rd Malasakit Center at the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Calapan City, on Friday.
The local government unit-retained hospital’s Malasakit Center is the 43rd in Luzon, fourth in Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) and first in the province.
“Your province finally has its own Malasakit Center. I am that happy indigent patients there will finally have a place to go to for their medical needs,” Go said. “Our target is zero balance. Do not be afraid of expenses. If you need medical care, go to Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital and you will get the attention you need.”
The Malasakit Center is a brainchild of Go after he observed firsthand the difficulties Filipinos go through when seeking financial and medical help from government offices and agencies.
The center houses four government agencies — Department of Health (DoH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and PhilHealth.
“I learned this from President Duterte when he was still the mayor of Davao and I was part of his staff. People go to the city hall with their hospital bills, sometimes even bringing the patients. Some came from other provinces like General Santos City,” Go narrated.
“The President scolded me. He said if I can’t do anything to help those patients who must travel all the way to Davao City to seek help, he will resign from his post.”
When the President eventually assumed office, Go thought of creating an office solely dedicated to address the medical and financial woes of poor, sick and indigent Filipinos.
Eventually, the Malasakit Center was formed. When Go was elected senator, he made sure the program will remain and be institutionalized to serve all Filipinos.
On December 2019, the Malasakit Center Act of 2019 was signed into law, establishing centers in all 73 DoH-run hospitals and at the Philippine General Hospital. Provinces wanting to establish Malasakit Centers can do so, subject to requirements.
“Whatever this government can do to help its citizens, it will do so. We are spending your money anyway. All these are from taxpayers’ money,” Go said.
DSWD representatives also provided financial assistance to 40 patients in the hospital’s charity ward, through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Go expressed his gratitude to health workers in the frontline of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 and asked the public to continue following health protocols to stop the spread of the virus.