Malasakit Center reaches 159 sites, newest in Bislig City
BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur – As the government bolsters its efforts to improve and implement easy access to medical and health care assistance especially to the poor and vulnerable members of the society, the country's 159th Malasakit Center was successfully opened to the public in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur on September 15, 2023.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on
Health, the Demography, and the author and father of the Malasakit Center,
personally attended the opening at the Bislig District Hospital in Bislig City,
Surigao del Sur as guest of honor and speaker.
The newly opened Malasakit Center in Bislig District Hospital, under the
district of Rep. Johnny Pimentel, is the seventh Malasakit Center in Caraga
Region and the 40th site in Mindanao.
This facility served as the third Malasakit Center in Surigao del Sur. The
128th Malasakit Center and built as the first facility in the province was
launched in Lianga District Hospital on July 10, 2021. While the 131st
Malasakit Center, as the second unit in the province, was launched in Adela
Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) in Tandag City last July 31, 2021.
The program on Malasakit Centers provided a seamless and expedited process for
particularly poor and indigent-patients to access government medical and health
care assistance programs. It was an idea born out of the legislator's concern
for the well-being of the poorest Filipinos who often struggle to get medical
needs. It served as a one-stop shop, streamlining the assistance process
by bringing together various government agencies under one roof, where the
patients could seek assistance for their medical bills, laboratory fees, and
other related expenses without the hassle of multiple visits and endless
paperwork.
"The establishment of the Malasakit Center is one of my priorities, "
emphasized Senator Go as he authored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
"As Chairman ng Committee on Health, priority ko talaga itong Malasakit
Center para mayroon kayong nalalapitan sa inyong pagpapaospital. Nandito na ang
apat na ahensya ng gobyerno, ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD na tutulong sa
inyong pagpapagamot. Lapitan niyo yang Malasakit Center. Para yan sa Pilipino,
pagmamay-ari niyo yang Malasakit Center. Para yan sa inyo," explained the
senator.
“Isa lang po ang pakiusap ko, gamitin niyo po (ang pondo) sa mga mahihirap.
Ubusin niyo po ang pera ng gobyerno para sa mga mahihirap. Sabi ko, bakit natin
pahirapan ang Pilipino? Sa totoo lang po (ay) pera ninyo yan. Dapat po ibalik
sa inyo sa mabilis na paraan. ‘Yan po ang Malasakit Center,” Senator added.
During the launch, Go expressed his gratitude to the local officials, including
Second District Congressman Pimentel, Governor Alexander Pimentel, Mayor Florencio
Garay, and Vice Mayor Atty. Alfredo Carmelo, as well as the medical staff, and
partner agencies who made the program's expansion possible.
“Hindi po ako titigil po sa mga programang makakabuti po sa ating mga
kababayan, ipagpapatuloy ko po ang mga nasimulan. Tulad nitong Malasakit Center
kung nakakatulong naman po sa mga kababayan natin, ipagpapatuloy natin,” Go
further said.
Meanwhile, Go extended some assistance to 129 patients and 191 frontliners
including the security guards, utilities, and hospital staff. They all received
the grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks while some other select
recipients received mobile phones, shoes, watches, shirts, and balls for
basketball and volleyball.
According to the Department of Health, these Malasakit Centers have assisted
more than seven million Filipinos nationwide. This number will continue to
increase, as more facilities will be built in the country and make medical and
health care inclusive for all. (NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)
