AS he consistently pushes for better access to healthcare services nationwide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go conducted a monitoring visit of the country’s 23rd Malasakit Center at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital (TPH) in Tarlac City on Wednesday, June 15.

The Malasakit Centers program is a brainchild of Go which he initiated in 2018. The center is a one-stop shop which brings together concerned agencies, such as the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, so particularly poor and indigent Filipinos may conveniently seek medical assistance.

To date, there are 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide. The senator highlighted that the centers are part of the Duterte Administration’s efforts to bring the government closer to the Filipinos and strengthen access to healthcare services, particularly in poor, rural and far-flung communities.

“Patapos na ang termino ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ang tanong po dito ay kung maipagpapatuloy ba ito? Ako po’y nakikiusap sa susunod na mga mamamahala ng DOH, sa susunod na administrasyon, kung sa tingin n’yo naman pong nakakatulong po sa ating mga kababayan ay ipagpatuloy n’yo po ito na programa, dahil nakakatulong po ito sa mga mahihirap,” appealed Go in an ambush interview after his visit.

“Umaasa po ako na maipagpapatuloy po itong programang ito dahil batas naman po ito, na-institutionalize na po ito, ito pong Malasakit Center. At isa po ito sa mga gusto ni Pangulong Duterte noon, aside from Universal Health Care, na maglagay po ng Malasakit Center,” he added.

Go, who serves as head of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, authored and sponsored Republic Act 11463 which institutionalizes the establishment of Malasakit Centers in DOH-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital.

During the event, he commended health care workers and health services related personnel for being the first line of defense in the fight against COVID-19. He noted that despite the lack of resources and other challenges amid the pandemic, they have quickly adapted and dedicated themselves to serving the Filipino people.

In line with his commitment to support medical frontliners, Go authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11712 which provides benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during the state of a public health emergency.

He also authored and co-sponsored RA 11466, or the Salary Standardization Law 5, in 2019 which gives civilian government employees, including nurses, their fifth round of salary increases broken down in tranches.

“Bakit pa papahirapan ‘yung mga health workers? Itinuturing nga natin silang mga frontliners. Sila po ‘yung bayani ng panahong ito. Asahan n’yo po na ipaglalaban ko po ang inyong karapatan.

‘Yung mga nurses, ‘yung Salary Standardization Law… ‘yung kaso ninyo sa Supreme Court ipinaglaban rin po natin ‘yan na what is due sa ating mga frontliners ay maibigay,” stressed Go during his speech.

Go also emphasized the urgency and the need to invest more in the country’s healthcare sector. During the event, the senator mentioned that with the help of the Department of Health, they were able to allocate PhP10 million worth of additional resources for TPH. He further committed to help secure additional support to improve the delivery of services in the hospital.

“Isa lang po ang pakiusap ko, gamitin niyo lang 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,” he explained.

Go and his team also personally provided relief items, such as meals, grocery packs, masks, and vitamins to 427 patients and 892 frontliners. Staff from the DSWD likewise extended financial assistance to the patients and 665 rank-and-file employees in the hospital.

The senator also provided shoes and phablets to select individuals and handed out bicycles, and balls for volleyball and basketball to others as part of his commitment as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports to encourage more Filipinos to engage in sports.

“Get into sports, stay away from drugs. Kaya ako po’y umiikot, namimigay po ako ng bola, ini-engganyo ko na lang po ang mga kabataan na maglaro na lang tayo ng sports. Dahil iyong inumpisahan ni Pangulong Duterte, ‘yung kampanya laban sa iligal na droga, kampanya laban sa kriminalidad, at kampanya laban sa korapsyon sa gobyerno, ayaw po nating masayang ito,” Go underscored.

Meanwhile, the senator committed to help one uniformed personnel whose child is currently admitted in the said hospital. In his speech, Go expressed his concern to the uniformed personnel, citing how hard it is for a parent to see their child in a critical condition.

“Alam n’yo, bumagsak po ‘yung luha ko dahil isipin mo, isang pulis… kesa pumasok sa kasamaan, nagtitinda po siya para maipantustos po doon sa pang-ospital ng kanyang anak. Sabi ko, itong pulis na ito wala siyang kasalanan. Ang naging kasalanan lang po niya, kulang lang po ‘yung pambayad niya sa isang pribadong hospital,” Go shared.

“So sabi ko, ‘Sa abot ng aking makakaya, tutulungan kita. Kung kailangang dalhin ang anak mo sa Maynila, ipapagamot po natin doon at kami na ho ang sasagot sa hospital doon. Wala na ho kayong aalalahanin,’” he added.

Before the Malasakit Center monitoring, Go kickstarted the three-day relief effort for thousands of struggling residents in the city. The senator personally led his team in the distribution of assistance to 3,000 residents at Kaisa Convention Hall.

On the previous day, Go joined President Rodrigo Duterte in inspecting the newly constructed National Academy of Sports in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.