80th Malasakit Center launched in Koronadal City; Bong Go's office provides assistance to hospital workers and patients

Senator and chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Christopher "Bong" Go attended as guest of honor the virtual launch of the country's 80th Malasakit Center which opened on Tuesday, August 18, at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops that host concerned government agencies with programs that provide financial and medical assistance to Filipino patients, particularly the poor and indigent. These agencies are the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

"Lapitan ninyo lang ang Malasakit Centers para sa mga pangangailangan ninyong pangkalusugan. Pera ninyo po ito. Ibinabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang serbisyo," Go said in his speech.

"Para po ito sa lahat ng mga Pilipino, lalo na ang mga mahihirap na nangangailangan ng tulong sa pampagamot. Sisiguraduhin natin na pagdating sa serbisyo mula sa gobyerno, sila ang ating uunahin palagi," he added.

The opening of the newest Malasakit Center marks the 80th to be established so far, and the 20th in Mindanao. The virtual ceremony was attended by such guests as Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), who helped then special assistant Go to establish the pioneering Malasakit Centers, and South Cotabato native Undersecretary Robert Eric Borje, the Chief of the Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs, as well as local officials led by Governor Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. and Vice Governor Vicente de Jesus.

"Sa ngayon, meron na po tayong 80 na Malasakit Centers. At dahil batas na ito, magkakaroon na rin po sa bawat DOH-run hospital. Bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Health, sisikapin kong gawing mas accessible at affordable ang quality health services kahit saan mang parte ng bansa lalo na sa panahon ngayon na may health crisis," he said.

With the enactment of the Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, all hospitals run by the DOH all over the country and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila are now mandated to establish their own Malasakit Centers.

Hospitals run by local government units and other public hospitals may also establish their own Malasakit Centers provided that they meet a standard set of criteria and guarantee the availability of funds for the operation of their centers, including its maintenance, personnel and staff training, among others.

As the Senate Committee Health Chair, Go expressed his gratitude to the medical frontliners in South Cotabato, most especially to the health workers at the hospital, for their sacrifice and dedication to treat sick Filipinos despite the threats posed by the pandemic.

"Sa kabila ng suliranin na dulot ng COVID-19, patuloy ang laban ng ating bansa lalong-lalo na po ang ating medical frontliners. Salamat po sa inyo sa mga medical frontliners diyan sa South Cotabato saludo po kami sa inyo dahil sa sakripisyo at dedikasyon na pinamalas ninyo para sa ating mga kababayan," said Go.

Go committed to push for measures to improve the health care system in the country. In his first year as Senator, his efforts led to the passage of key measures such as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 and the Salary Standardization Law 5 which raises the minimum salary of an estimated 1.4 million government employees, including public nurses, in four tranches starting from 2020 until 2023.

After the event, the Senator's staff gave 1,100 medical-grade face masks, 350 packs of medicine and vitamins and 350 food packs to hospital workers. Five hospital staff members belonging to the "poorest of the poor" category also received a bicycle each from Go. The DSWD likewise provided additional financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries.

"Minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa tao, gawin na natin ngayon," he said.

Meanwhile, Go expressed his empathy for the hardworking employees of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation negatively affected by the allegations of fraud and corruption within the agency as well as the millions of poor Filipinos who continue to rely on PhilHealth for their medical expenses.

"[Iyung] mga magnanakaw diyan kabisado na nila 'yan. Matagal na 'yan 'yung mga nasa taas. Matagal ng nagnanakaw 'yan diyan kaya dapat sa kanila pilayin. Dapat silang pilayan para hindi na sila makagalaw, itong mga magnanakaw na ito. We are expecting the Ombudsman to suspend, preventive suspension or even dismiss them para hindi na sila makagalaw," he added.

He called on the PhilHealth officials and other government workers to cooperate in the ongoing investigations in order to hold accountable those involved in these anomalies.

"Kung walang itinatago, dapat mag-cooperate. Gawin natin ang lahat para malinis ang mga ahensya, mas mapaganda ang serbisyo sa tao at hindi mahawahan ang iba," Go said.

"Naniniwala akong meron pa naman diyan na gusto talagang magsilbi with all honesty and integrity kaya hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. Kailangan lang talaga ng mabisang gamot na tatalab talaga upang tuluyang matanggal ang korapsyon sa ating sistema," he emphasized further.