SENATOR Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, inaugurated the opening of the latest ‘Malasakit Center’ in Malabon City, bringing to 149 the total number of operating facilities in the country.
Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and the main mover behind the Malasakit Center as principal author of RA 11463 or the Malasakit Center Act of 2019, noted that the opening of the center at the San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital has brought to 31 the total number of operating centers in Metro Manila. It would also be the second Malasakit Center in Malabon after the inauguration of the center at the Ospital ng Malabon in December 2019.
“Noong naging senador ako, isa ito sa mga una kong isinulong sa Senado. Sila (Makabon) Congresswoman (Josephine Lacson-Noel) ang iilan sa mga nakipaglaban nito sa Lower House.
“Tinulungan nila tayo upang maging batas itong Malasakit Centers program,” said Go.
“Ang target nito ay zero balance (sa mga pasyente).
“Halimbawa, may bill kayo sa ospital. Ilapit niyo lang ito sa apat na ahensya. Kung may naiwang balanse, pwede pong kunin ang pangdagdag sa pondong iniwan ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte para maging zero balance ang inyong billing,” explained Go.
“Kaya kung may pasyente kayo, ilapit niyo siya sa Malasakit Center.
Ano ho bang kwalipikasyon nito? Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka. Kapag hindi ka tutulungan ng Malasakit Center pagalitan mo. Sabihin mo, ‘Hoy! Pilipino ako, karapatan ko ‘yan’,” he continued.
Since the launching of the center in 2018, a year before it was enacted into law when Go was elected senator, records show that the concept of a ‘zero bill medical and health assistance program’ for all Filipinos has been adopted in 83 hospitals in Luzon, 29 in Visayas and 37 in Mindanao.
It has since aided over three million poor and indigent patients, in keeping with the Duterte administration’s commitment to improving access to health care services.
After the ceremony, the senator and his staff handed out meals, food packs, vitamins and masks to a total of 324 frontline HCWs and 26 indigent patients.
They provided selected frontliners new pairs of shoes and bicycles. Some also received computer tablets which their children can use for their school activities.
In addition, personnel from the DSWD distributed financial assistance to each patient and 164 rank-and-file hospital employees, including the custodian and security personnel.
Meanwhile, Go, who is now a presidential candidate, said he is “not aware” of the PDP-Laban rejecting any candidate for next year’s elections.
“I will let the PDP leadership clarify these matters in due time.
“Alam ko naman po na wala kaming tinatanggihan. Being the administration party, we have always exerted efforts to reach out to those who are supportive of PRRD,” Go said.
Go made the clarification after Davao City mayor, Sara Duterte in a statement on the same date, claimed that the PDP-Laban “rejected” her request for the party’s support to her candidacy and that of former senator, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong/BBM’ Marcos Jr.
The presidential daughter has withdrawn her re-election bid as Davao City mayor and is now running for vice-president with Marcos as her running mate for president.
Go added that insofar as he is concerned, he would always choose Sara as his vice president.
“With regard to Mayor Sara, we always wish her well.
“As I have said earlier, kung ako lang ang tatanungin, siya ang aking sinusuportahan sa pagka-Bise Presidente,” Go said.