138th Malasakit Center opens in Jolo, Sulu as Bong Go pursues improved access to healthcare in every corner of the country

In pursuit of his goal of improving access to health care especially in far-flung communities, Senate Committee on Health Chair Christopher "Bong" Go welcomed the opening of the 138th Malasakit Center at the Sulu Sanitarium in Jolo, Sulu on Friday, September 3.

The Sulu Sanitarium is the eighth hospital in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and second in Jolo to open a Malasakit Center, after the Sulu Provincial Hospital which launched its own last January 6.

In his virtual message, Go explained that the center aims to make medical and financial assistance programs of government more accessible to patients who have difficulty paying for their medical expenses.

"Natutuwa ako na may dalawang Malasakit Center na sa Sulu and I hope this will not be the last. Nag-umpisa ito dahil sa experience ko bilang executive assistant nung mayor pa ang Pangulo. Nakita ko 'yung araw-araw na problema kung saan maraming pasyente ang humihingi ng tulong mula sa city hall," said Go.

"Nakita ko 'yung puso ni Pangulong Duterte... dahil hindi n'ya po matiis na hindi tulungan 'yung mga kababayan natin. Minsan po mga taga-Zamboanga, minsan po mga kababayan nating Muslim, mga Maranaw, mga Tausug pumupunta po 'yan diyan sa (Davao) city hall humihingi ng tulong," he shared further.

"Kaya noong naging presidente po siya, ginawa natin itong Malasakit Center," the senator emphasized.

The Malasakit Center brings under one roof the national agencies from which patients may avail of medical assistance, namely the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

"Ang importante po rito, makasalba man lang tayo ng buhay ng ating kapwa Pilipino. 'Yon po pinaka-importante diyan. Tulungan po natin 'yung mga kababayan nating mahihirap, 'yung mga hopeless, mga helpless, 'yung walang matakbuhan po. Sila po ang ating uunahin," he stressed.

The program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored. Under the law, all DOH-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital are mandated to open a Malasakit Center while other public hospitals may establish their own provided they meet the standard criteria and can guarantee the sustainability of its operations.

"Siniguro ko na maisabatas ito para kahit wala na kami ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte ay tuloy-tuloy ito. Sa mga susunod na administrasyon, sana 'wag ninyong pababayaan ang mga nasimulang programa, lalo na dahil nakakatulong naman ito sa mga mahihirap," appealed Go.

Go continued that his office is ready to help those patients who require specialized medical treatment in hospitals outside Sulu. He also recognized the hospital staff for their continuing dedication to providing medical care and assured them that their welfare is one of his priorities.

"Maraming salamat at hindi mababayaran ng kahit anong halaga ang walang kapagurang serbisyo ninyo. Handa kami ni Pangulong Duterte na magserbisyo at bilang inyong committee chair sa Senado ay susuportahan at ipaglalaban ko kung ano man ang makakabuti sa kapakanan ninyo," said Go.

"Nakita niyo naman na ipinaglaban ko 'yung local hospital bills dahil alam ko ang sitwasyon sa baba kung saan minsan umaabot ng 400% ang occupancy rate ng mga ospital. Kahit ilang araw kami mag-debate, hindi ako titigil na ipaglaban ang kapakanan ninyo at ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan," he vowed.

Meanwhile, Go highlighted that the government is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccination rollout, having obtained some 52.8 million doses of vaccines as of September 2. About 14.4 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated while another 20.2 million have received their first dose.

"Magtiwala tayo sa bakuna dahil ito ang tanging susi para makabalik tayo sa normal natin na pamumuhay. Luluwag lang ang restrictions 'pag mas maraming mga Pilipino ang bakunado na," continued Go.

"Napatunayang 'pag bakunado ka, protektado ka. 'Yung mga kaso po ngayon na tumataas, karamihan po 'yung mga hindi bakunado... kaya kami na ni Pangulong Duterte ang nakikiusap po sa inyo na magpabakuna na ho kayo para protektado po kayo," he appealed.

Moreover, the Senator encouraged Filipinos to continue to show compassion for others by cooperating with the government and being disciplined in observing the necessary health protocols.

"Mahirap ang panahon ngayon pero kailangan natin magbayanihan, magtulungan at magmalasakit sa ating kapwa para malampasan natin ito bilang nagkakaisang mamamayan. Handa kami ni Pangulong Duterte na magserbisyo sa abot ng aming makakaya. Pagod na pagod na din kami subalit kayo ang nagbibigay lakas sa amin upang magtrabaho pa," encouraged Go.

"Isang katutak na ang paninira na ginagawa nila pero hindi kami nawawalan ng pag-asa habang nandiyan ang suporta ng mga Pilipino, Muslim man at Kristiyano. Magtatrabaho at magseserbisyo kami sa abot ng aming makakaya dahil 'yan lang ang maipagmamalaki namin sa inyo," he concluded.

Following the ceremony, the Senator's staff provided meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to around 20 indigent patients and 281 health workers.

Selected beneficiaries were also given shoes and bicycles while others received computer tablets for their children's educational use.

Meanwhile, representatives from the DSWD also separately provided indigent patients and 209 rank-and-file hospital employees, which included utility workers and security guards, with financial assistance.

Go acknowledged Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, 1st District Representative Samier Tan, Governor Abdusakar Tan, Mayor Kerkhar Tan and Medical Chief of Sulu Integrated Provincial Health Office Dr. Fahra Tan-Omar, representatives of partner agencies, among other national and local officials present, who have contributed to the success of the Malasakit Center launch.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Go supported the construction of an intensive care unit complex at the Sulu Provincial Hospital and rehabilitation of the Jolo Mainland Water District. He also supported other initiatives, including the construction or improvement of roads, seawalls and multi-purpose buildings in various areas in Sulu.

More than two million poor and indigent patients have benefitted from the program so far and Go assured that more Malasakit Centers will be established in various parts of the country soon.

"Nangako ako sa inyo noon pa, kahit saang sulok kayo ng Pilipinas, Aparri hanggang Jolo -- may Malasakit Center na sa Jolo at maglalagay rin tayo sa Batanes -- iyon po ang ipinangako ko noon sa inyo, kahit saang sulok... pupuntahan ko para magserbisyo," Go previously said.