Press Release
November 5, 2019

49th Malasakit Center opens at the Philippine Heart Center

In a step towards making quality healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Filipinos, the Malasakit Center at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City is now open to serve indigent and poor patients in need of medical assistance from the government.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, attended the launch of the country's 49th Malasakit Center on Tuesday, November 5, marking the second time that a center was established in a specialty hospital in the city after the first one was opened at the nearby Lung Center of the Philippines back in January.

"Pera niyo po ito. Ibinabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang serbisyong medikal para sa lahat ng Pilipino," Go said.

In his message, the senator recounted how the Malasakit Center program was conceived to improve the access of Filipinos to quick government healthcare services.

"The Malasakit Center was just once a dream. Noong nasa Davao City pa kami ng ating Pangulong Duterte, nakita na namin kung gaano kahirap ang pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayang Pilipino, lalo na sa kanilang pagpapa-ospital," said Go.

"Saksi kami sa mahabang pila ng mga kababayan nating lumuwas pa galing sa ibang baryo o bayan, makapunta lang sa opisina ni Mayor Digong para lang makapagpagamot at makapagpa-ospital. Siyempre, hindi namin kayang tugunan ang lahat ng kanilang pangangailangan dahil bukod sa konti lang ang aming pondo, pinagbabawal pa ng COA noon na gamitin sa mga hindi taga-Davao ang pera ng siyudad," Go narrated.

"Pero sa loob-loob namin ni Mayor, parang hindi makatao at makatarungan ito. Sabi pa nga ni Mayor, 'Bong, maghanap ka ng paraan na matulungan mo ang mga ito'", the senator told, adding how President Rodrigo Duterte's prodding encouraged him to conceptualize the Malasakit Center program.

"Kaya nang mabigyan ako ng pagkakataong maging Special Assistant ng ating Pangulo, ako ay umaksyon kaagad at inihain ang konsepto ng Malasakit Center. Nagustuhan ito ng Pangulo at agad-agad ay nakapagbukas kami ng Malasakit Center," Go added, expressing his appreciation at how far the program has come since its conception.

In an interview right after the launching ceremony, Go said that he seeks to institutionalize and set criteria for the establishment of Malasakit Centers to ensure that these centers are properly staffed so that concerned agencies are represented and are functioning properly to help every Filipino in need.

"Ito na po ang ika-49 na Malasakit Center all over the country. Tuluy tuloy po ito kaya I filed a bill to institutionalize and set a criteria kung ano ba ang pwedeng lagyan ng Malasakit Centers para hindi kulang kulang ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno sa loob," said Go.

"Basta Pilipino ka, pwede kang humingi ng tulong dito. May social worker tayo para mag-assess para sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong," Go added.

The senator sponsored the committee report for the Malasakit Center Act of 2019 which has already hurdled the interpellation period. Go said that he hopes the measure be passed into law the soonest possible time given the support for the measure expressed by fellow lawmakers.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where patients only need to sign a single form to avail of government medical assistance. Go clarified that the centers will serve as an office that hosts concerned government agencies that provide medical and financial assistance, such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and PhilHealth.

"Ang Malasakit Center ay one-stop shop. Ginawa siyang bahay o kuwarto para lahat ng pasyente doon na pupunta para makahingi ng medical assistance at hindi na kailangan lumabas pa ng ospital o magpunta sa iba't ibang opisina ng gobyerno," Go said.

Go explained that the medical and financial assistance provided in Malasakit Centers will come from the budget of concerned agencies with programs for poor and indigents patients.

Go also answered questions on his target number of Malasakit Centers to be opened in the coming months. He said, "Walang limit itong target natin." The senator pointed out that the aim is to first install Malasakit Centers in DOH-run hospitals.

Meanwhile, as to whether or not there is humanitarian crisis in Mindanao due to the recent earthquakes that hit the region, Go said that he is not convinced and urged government critics instead to help in aiding earthquake victims.

"Hindi naman po siguro may humanitarian crisis. Kaya sinabi ko rin sa mga bumabatikos, sayang ang laway ninyo. Kesa nambabatikos kayo, itulong niyo na lang po. Tumulong na lang kayo. Sarado niyo bunganga ninyo, tapos hanapin niyo 'yung mga gamit na hindi niyo na ginagamit. Itulong niyo na lang sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong," Go told, adding that the aid pouring into the region must go to proper channels so they can be distributed properly.

"Galing ako Thailand, dumiretso agad ako sa Kidapawan tapos nag-motor papunta sa Makilala. Nakita ko ang dami na pong dumarating na tulong. Ang sabi ko idaan sa proper channel. Idaan niyo sa mayor o governor para equally distributed. Para doon sa mismong nangangailangan ng tulong pupunta. Idaan sa proper channel at sila magpapadala through barangay captain sa mga bundok."

With the country prone to natural disasters due to its location, Go stressed the urgent need for the creation of an executive department to centralize government efforts in times of disasters and calamities to bolster their effectiveness and efficiency.

"Kahapon after our session, we had a (caucus). Nabanggit ko sa mga kasamahan natin, dapat i-take up na po ito (pagkakaroon ng Department of Disaster Resilience). Isa ito sa aking na-file na priority bill, ang Department of Disaster Resilience," Go said.

The senator filed in July Senate Bill (SB) No. 205, known as "Disaster Resilience Act of 2019", which seeks to establish "an empowered, highly-specialized, and responsive Department of Disaster Resilience with clear unity of command."

The department aims to provide faster government response to natural disasters and calamities, such as typhoons and earthquakes, by putting together all related agencies under a single department.

The proposed measure also mandates local government units to build permanent and dedicated evacuation centers that are comfortable and complete with all necessary supplies needed by evacuees.

"Panahon na po. 'Wag na tayo maghintay ng panibagong sunog o lindol. Panahon na na magkaroon ng sariling departmento na makikipag-coordinate sa tuwing may sakuna. Nakiki-usap ako kay Senator Tito Sotto as our leader sa Senado na mapakiusapan ang mga kasama namin na masali agad ito sa agenda," Go said.

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