Cagayan Valley gets newests Malasakit Centers
The newest Malasakit Centers were set up at the Batanes General Hospital in the town of Basco town on 1 March and the Quirino Provincial Medical Center in Cabarroguis town the following day
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged anew Filipinos in need of healthcare services to avail of the government’s medical assistance programs following the launch of two new Malasakit Centers in the Cagayan Valley Region. He said the Malasakit Centers show President Rodrigo Duterte’s deep concern for Filipinos.
Go noted that access to quality healthcare services remains an important challenge, especially in rural areas where medical costs are often a constraint. He welcomed the government’s continued efforts to provide a more streamlined way to request medical aid, especially in remote areas.
Situated in the northernmost part of the country, the Cagayan Valley Region is known for its mountainous terrain, developing infrastructure and difficult weather which hinder access to quality healthcare for many far-flung communities.
The newest Malasakit Centers were set up at the Batanes General Hospital in the town of Basco town on 1 March and the Quirino Provincial Medical Center in Cabarroguis town the following day.
These are the country’s 150th and 151st Malasakit Centers, respectively.
The other Malasakit Centers in the region are at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Region II Trauma and Medical Center in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Faustino N. Dy, Sr. Memorial Hospital in Ilagan City and Southern Isabela Medical Center in Santiago City, both in Isabela.
The Malasakit Center brings together the different government agencies that offer medical assistance under a standardized system. These agencies include the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Its main goal is to reduce costly hospital bills to the lowest amount possible by covering various patient services and expenses. If available, centers may also facilitate access to similar programs provided by other agencies, local government units, non-governmental organizations, and private institutions and individuals.