IN a steadfast commitment to aid indigent patients and their families, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, continues his feeding programs in public hospitals equipped with Malasakit Centers often visited by indigent patients.

The initiative aims to provide meals for poor patients and their watchers as they navigate the medical processes required for their treatment. Recognizing the financial burdens these families face, Go’s program ensures they have one less worry during their hospital stay.

Go acknowledges that many patients and their families arrive at hospitals with just enough funds for transportation and medical expenses, often seeking assistance from the Malasakit Centers.

These Malasakit centers serve as a one-stop shop for various government medical assistance programs, streamlining support for those in need.

“Sa mga pasyente, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ‘to sa inyo. Kung may hospital bill kayo, nandiyan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para mabayaran ito. Tutulungan kayo ng Malasakit Center upang mabayaran ang inyong hospital billing,” Go said.

Established through the initiative of Senator Bong Go, these centers aim to streamline the process of obtaining medical aid from agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), PhilHealth, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program and has already established 165 centers nationwide.

The program has been instrumental in assisting more or less ten million Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged who often struggle to cover medical costs.

Launched late last year, the feeding program was initially a small gesture of assistance. However, its success and the substantial number of Filipinos it has benefited have motivated the senator to organize more feeding initiatives. “This program is a little help for our fellow Filipinos, but its impact has been immense,” said Go. “I am inspired to continue and expand this effort to reach more people in need.”

From June 27 to 30, Senator Go’s Malasakit Team conducted feeding programs at several hospitals, including Pasay General Hospital, Las Piñas General Hospital, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), and the Lung Center of the Philippines. These programs provided much-needed meals to patients and their watchers, alleviating some financial stress associated with hospital stays.

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