Bong Go launches 62nd Malasakit Center in Isabela

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has launched the 62nd Malasakit Center in the country in Isabela province.

The lawmaker also witnessed the turnover of financial assistance from the Office of the President (OP) to typhoon victims and affected farmers in the province on Wednesday.

The Malasakit Center, located inside the Gov. Faustino N. Dy Sr. Memorial Hospital at Barangay Calamagui 2nd in Ilagan City in Isabela province, serves as a one-stop shop for financial and medical assistance from four government agencies.

“Here at the Malasakit Center, we have joined the four agencies of government,” Go said in his speech during the launch, referring to the Department of Health ( DoH), Department of Social Welfare and Development ( DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“You no longer need to join in the long line in different offices. We will also put here an express lane for senior citizens and persons with disabilities,” he added.

The senator said the provincial government of Isabela also contributed funds to the Malasakit Center as additional assistance in case the four agencies cannot cover the entire bill of a patient.

The center covers patient services and expenses such as laboratories, medicines, surgeries or operations, with the exemption of professional fees and private room accommodation.

The process of seeking assistance has also been simplified through the Malasakit Unified Form, which means that there is only one form to fill up for Filipinos requesting medical assistance.

“This will continue in all DoH-run hospitals because the President has already signed the Malasakit Center Act of 2019. According to the law, each of the 73 DoH-run hospitals will have its own Malasakit Center,” the former top aide of President Rodrigo Duterte said.

According to Go, the law also allows local government units to establish Malasakit Centers provided that they meet the standards and criteria to ensure sustainability and consistency in the services provided by the centers.

The senator then proceeded to the Ilagan City Community Center on Saint Mark Street to attend the turnover of checks from the OP to the province, to its component city of Ilagan and to 18 of its municipalities affected by Typhoons “Ramon,” “Rosita” and “Tisoy.”

Also receiving assistance is Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province, affected by Typhoons “Quiel” and “Ramon.”

All the typhoons made landfall in these areas in the last quarter of 2019.

During the turnover, the DSWD conducted a ceremonial distribution of financial assistance to 35,000 typhoon- affected families represented by 15 families.

The Department of Agriculture also conducted a ceremonial turnover of farm equipment to farmers’ associations and one-time financial assistance to 1,000 farmers from Ilagan City and 732 farmers from the municipality of Jones.

In an interview, Go emphasized the need for the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience ( DDR). “We already conducted hearings at the Senate on this. I said, during typhoons, earthquake or volcanic eruption, it is important that there is a Cabinet- level official who will manage,” he told reporters.

The Senator filed in July last year Senate Bill 205 or the “Department of Disaster Resilience Act of 2019,” which proposes the creation of the DDR, “an empowered, highly specialized department with clear unity of command and primarily responsible in ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities.”