ON Monday, September 13, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go virtually attended the launch of the 139th Malasakit Center at Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

This is the 10th Malasakit Center in the city, in addition to the Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, and National Children’s Hospital.

In his speech, Go explained that the start of the Malasakit Center was a shared vision with President Rodrigo Duterte after they have personally witnessed the struggles of low-income families in seeking medical attention considering that most services are beyond their financial means.

“Kaya noong naging Pangulo siya (Duterte) naglagay tayo ng Malasakit Center sa Cebu. Sinubukan muna natin, sinubukan natin hanggang more than 300,000 na po ang natulungan po sa Cebu,” Go said.

“At ngayon po’y naging senador po ako, isinabatas po natin itong Malasakit Center. Tuloy-tuloy po ang pagbubukas ng Malasakit Center, batas na ito ngayon. So, lahat po ng mga DOH-run hospitals ay magkakaroon ng Malasakit Center at hindi po kami titigil kung papaano pa po makatulong sa mga kababayan natin,” he added.

Principally authored and sponsored by Senator Go, Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, mandates all hospitals administered and managed by the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital in the City of Manila to establish Malasakit Centers.

Other public hospitals may also establish their own provided they meet a standard set of criteria and guarantee the sustainability of their operations.

RA 11463 was one of the priority bills of the senator as part of his commitment as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography to improve public health delivery to those in need, especially amid an ongoing pandemic.

“Wala na po akong nakikitang dahilan na hindi natin matulungan at masuportahan ‘yung mga mahihirap nating mga pasyente,” Go expressed.

“Napakahirap ng maging mahirap, lalung-lalo na po sa panahon ngayon na wala po silang matakbuhan. Ayaw ko pong mangyari na naghihingalo po ang ating mga kababayan na wala silang matakbuhan po,” he added.

Go reaffirmed in his remarks that through the joint efforts of the Department of Health and his office, Quirino Memorial Medical Center will be granted additional funds on top of the previously allotted budget to further support and improve the hospital.

“The more Malasakit (Centers) na puwede nating buksan, mas mabuti po at pakiusap ko lang naman sa susunod na administrasyon, kung sino man po ang papalarin ay sana po’y ipagpatuloy ninyo ang mga programang magaganda, nakakatulong naman po sa mga kababayan natin sana po’y ipagpatuloy ninyo,” Go noted.

Given the critical situation of hospitals nationwide caused by the alarming rates of COVID-19, Go then mentioned that he will continue to push for more measures that will enhance and expand the capabilities of the country’s health care system.

“Talo po nila ako sa debate doon pero hindi po ako sumusuko, pinaglalaban ko kahit isang linggo kami, alam naman natin na sinasadya lang patagalin para lang po pahirapan ‘yung mga hospital bills (in the Senate),” Go shared.

“Papaano po gagaling ‘yung pasyente, isang kama, apat na pasyente. Baliktad, dapat ng handa tayo, dapat nga mayroon tayong apat na hospital beds sa isang pasyente para ready po ‘yung tatlo lalong-lalo na po ngayon na nasa pandemya po tayo, hirap po ang ating mga kababayan,” he continued.

The senator commended medical frontliners for their selfless service, saying, “Hindi po nababayaran ng kahit ano pa man ang sakripisyo niyo sa panahong ito kaya huwag niyo pong pabayaan ang mga kababayan natin.”

“Ospital talaga ang takbuhan ngayon lalong-lalo na po ang Quirino Memorial Medical Center, ‘yan po ang isa sa mga takbuhan ng ating mga kababayan sa panahon ng COVID, salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo,” he added.

As the senator prioritizes the health and well-being of Filipinos, he then encouraged residents to take part in the vaccination program against COVID-19 as this would greatly help the medical frontliners. At the same, he mentioned that getting vaccinated will significantly contribute to the country’s return to normalcy.

He then reiterated his appeal to the government to look into the possibility of extending the vaccine rollout to the general public to ensure population protection and herd immunity eventually.

“Importante po na nababalanse natin sa pagbabakuna. Napatunayan naman po sa datos ‘pag ikaw ay bakunado mas maiiwasan po ‘yung pagka-severe o pagkamatay,” Go said.

“Hindi po basta-basta makakuha ng bakuna sa ngayon, napakahirap po. Kaya importante huwag po nating sayangin. Kung ano ‘yung bakunang nasa harapan ninyo magpabakuna na ho kayo para protektado po kayo,” Go appealed.

After the event, Go’s team gave essentials such as grocery packs, meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins to 359 patients and 1,928 medical frontliners. Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance to the patients and 878 rank-and-file hospital employees.

Go also gave computer tablets, bicycles, and new pairs of shoes to select recipients.

Go then thanked Rep. Allan Benedict Reyes, Mayor Maria Josefina Tanya “Joy” Belmonte, Office of the President Assistant Secretary Girlie Veloso, Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Dr. Evelyn Victoria Reside, and other local officials for ensuring their constituents get necessary support during these trying times.

“Pakiusap lang, magtulungan lang tayo, magbayanihan po tayo, at magmalasakit tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Kami naman po ni Pangulong Duterte ay hindi po kami titigil sa pagseserbisyo upang malampasan natin itong krisis na ito,” he ended