As Bong Go continues to push for better access to public health services

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, joined by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, visited Quezon province on Thursday, September 15, to attend the opening of the 152nd Malasakit Center in the country as well as the groundbreaking ceremony of a seven-story building at the Maria L. Eleazar General Hospital in Tagkawayan town.

The newly opened Malasakit Center at the MLEGH is the second center established in the province, with the first one located at the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City.

This is also the 12th Malasakit Center in CALABARZON.

Witnessing first-hand the struggles of low-income Filipinos in getting adequate medical attention, Go had initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 to give particularly poor and indigent patients convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The program was later institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored, mandating the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all DOH-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital. Other public hospitals can also establish their own Malasakit Centers provided they meet a standard set of criteria to ensure the center’s operation.

“Mahirap magkasakit lalo na kung ikaw ay mahirap at hindi alam kung saan kukunin ang pambayad sa ospital at pambili ng gamot,” Go earlier remarked.

“Nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, at DSWD, tutulungan po ang mga pasyente—mga poor and indigent patients—hanggang maging zero balance po ang inyong billing. Iyan po ang Malasakit Center. Wala pong pinipiling pasyente ‘yan. Basta Pilipino qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Inyo po ‘yan, ibinabalik lang po sa inyo sa mabilis na paraan,” he added.

According to the DOH, to date, the Malasakit Centers program has already assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide.

Continuing his remarks, the senator lauded all of the hospital staff who took their oaths as permanent hospital employees, saying, “Congratulations po. Kaya isa lang po ang ipinapaalala ko sa inyo sa mga frontliners dito, social workers, huwag n’yo pong pabayaan ‘yung mga mahihirap po – ‘yung mga helpless at ‘yung mga hopeless.”

“Sa lahat po ng mga frontliners, kasama na ‘yung utility workers dito sa hospital, maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo sa panahon ng pandemya. Kung hindi po dahil sa inyo, mahihirapan po tayong malampasan, na makabalik unti-unti sa ating normal,” he added.

As part of the senator’s efforts to further improve the delivery of public health services in the hospital, Go helped secure additional funding for medical assistance to aid the less fortunate residents in Quezon province.

After the launch of the center, Go personally led the distribution of meals, food packs, vitamins, shirts, and masks to 92 healthcare workers and 16 patients. Meanwhile, the patients and 58 rank-and-file hospital employees also received financial assistance from the DSWD.

The senator likewise gave away bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select individuals.

“Chairman po ako ng (Senate Committees ng) Sports at Health. Advocacy ko po (ay) get into sports, stay away from drugs. Isang paraan po (ito para) ilayo natin ang mga kabataan sa iligal na droga . Get into sports, stay away from drugs. Isang paraan ‘yan na maipagpatuloy ‘yung inumpisahan ni (dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte na labanan po ang iligal na droga,” he cited.

The senator likewise commended the local officials, including Congressman Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” Tan, Governor Angelina “Doktora Helen” Tan, Vice Governor Anacleto “Third” Alcala, and many others, for their immeasurable service and dedication to help their constituents, especially at this time of health crisis.

Go and Padilla then proceeded to witness the groundbreaking ceremony of a seven-story building inside the hospital complex, which is expected to further expand the capability of the facility.

Senator Go was the principal sponsor of Republic Act 11474 which upgraded the MLEGH into a Level-3 hospital under the DOH. Go also helped allocate funding for the upgrade of the hospital under the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

Finally, the two senators went on to personally witness the groundbreaking of the Super Health Centers in the towns of Tagkawayan and Atimonan. They likewise provided assistance to the towns’ disadvantaged students.

“Mga kababayan ko rito sa Quezon, sa Tagkawayan, minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa, gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Iyan po ang totoo,” said Go.

“Ako po, patuloy akong magseserbisyo sa inyo, si (Sen.) Robin, (at) si (dating) pangulong Duterte (kahit na) natapos na po niya ang termino niya, ay patuloy po kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo. Dahil kami po’y naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao, serbisyo po iyan sa Diyos. Mga taga-Quezon salamat po,” he concluded.