75th Malasakit Center launched in Occidental Mindoro Provincial Hospital
POLITIKO - The bible of Philippine Politics.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go virtually attended the opening of the new Malasakit Center at Occidental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Mamburao last Friday, July 24.
The said Malasakit Center is the 75th in the country, 37th in Luzon and third in the MIMAROPA region.
“Congratulations po sa inyo sa Occidental Mindoro. Kayo po ‘yung 75th na Malasakit Center sa buong bansa,” Go said.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where Filipinos can ask financial and medical assistance from the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The Senator emphasized that the Malasakit Center has played an important role in helping Filipinos get the help they need in terms of their hospitalization, especially that the country is going through a health crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.
“Nagkataon po ngayon, tingnan ninyo po ‘yung nangyari, nagkaroon ng pandemya. Paano mo aasahan ‘yung Pilipino na pipila dyan sa PCSO, PhilHealth, DOH, DSWD? Madaling araw pipila sila eh, magkakahawaan po ‘yun,” Go lamented.
“Kaya ngayon, mas mabuti na lang mayroon tayong Malasakit Center nasa loob na po ng ospital. Hindi na nila kailangan lumabas pa. Nandyan na po yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, DOH, DSWD, PCSO. Mag-aambag-ambag po sila para po ang target nito zero billing,” the Senator explained.
Go noted that since the Malasakit Center is already a law through the Malasakit Center Act that was signed by the President late last year, all DOH-run hospitals in the country, plus the Philippine General Hospital, will have a Malasakit Center. In addition, other hospitals may also open their Malasakit Center subject to specific minimum requirements to ensure complete services.
“Magkakaroon po ng Malasakit Centers sa 73 DOH-run hospitals at sa probinsya naman po katulad ng Occidental Mindoro Provincial Hospital, ay pwede na po maglagay ng Malasakit Center provided that–‘yung criteria po na dapat sundin para magkaroon kayo ng Malasakit sa inyong mga lugar,” he explained.
Also Present during the launching were Governor Ed Gadiano, Commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Mr. Greco Belgica, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Mr. Kenneth Depano from DOH Central Office, Provincial DOH Officer Dr. Michael Enarbia, OIC-PHO II Dr. Ma. Teresa V. Tan, Chief of Hospital Dr. Reynaldo Feratero, PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Officer Ms. Concepcion Mulingbayan-Arteza, DSWD SWAD Team Leader Ms. Shiela Sarabia, Mr. Menard Ebora of the Philippine Red Cross, Ms. Rowena Rebaldo of PCSO, OIC-PSWDO Ms. Ma. Antonia M. Javier and AKAP-HUB Focal Person Mr. Ryan Gadiano Sioson.
