Senator Bong Go opens Malasakit Center in Masbate City

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go congratulated the people of Masbate province for the launch of the country’s 122nd Malasakit Center held at the Masbate Provincial Hospital in Masbate City, on Monday, June 28.

Go personally attended the activity as part of his continued commitment to improving access to and delivery of public health services.

This is the first Malasakit Center in the province and fourth in the Bicol region, in addition to those at the Dr. Fernando B. Duran, Sr. Memorial Hospital in Sorsogon City, Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Legazpi City, and Bicol Medical Center in Naga City.

In his remarks, Go spoke of his untiring commitment for helping indigent patients which began when he was still working under then-mayor Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City. There, he saw firsthand many of the barriers to healthcare experienced by patients living in rural and low-income communities.

“Hindi pa ako Senador, isinusulong ko na ang programang ito… Mayor pa si Pangulo ‘nun, nakita ko ‘yung hirap na pinagdadaanan ng mga pasyente para lang humingi ng tulong mula sa city hall at mga ahensya ng gobyerno. Ubos na pera at panahon nila sa kakapila, mangungutang pa sila para sa balanseng naiwan,” said Go.

“Doon ko nakita ang puso niya para sa mahihirap. Maawain talaga ‘yan si Pangulo kahit noong mayor pa siya. Inatasan niya akong tulungan kahit ang mga hindi taga-Davao dahil hindi niya matiis na tanggihan ang kapwa niya Pilipino,” he continued.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail of the medical assistance programs offered by various government agencies. The partner agencies are the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Sa mga kababayan natin dito, kayo na ang magbalita sa inyong kapitbahay kung ano ang Malasakit Center. Halimbawa may bill kayo sa ospital, puntahan niyo lang ito at nasa loob na ang mga ahensya na tutulong para mabayaran ang gamot, operasyon at iba pang gastusing pangkalusugan ninyo,” explained Go.

After the ceremony, the Senator’s team handed out meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 375 medical frontliners. They gave selected recipients new shoes or bicycles for their daily commute or computer tablets for their children to use in school.

In addition, personnel from the DSWD distributed financial assistance to 246 rank-and-file employees. The same forms of aid were likewise extended to 105 patients.

Go thanked various public officials for their efforts to improve the delivery of health services in Masbate.

Among those present during the activity were Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Chair Greco Belgica, 2nd District Representative Elisa Kho, 3rd District Rep. Wilton Kho, Governor Antonio Kho, Vice Governor Olga Kho, Mayor Rowena Tuason, and Chief of Hospital Dr. Luisito Co.

He also acknowledged 2nd District Board Members Jamon Espares, Allan Cos, and Rani Lauren Sia; 3rd District Board Members Jason Arevalo, Rafael Talisic, George Gonzales Jr., and Rudy Alvarez Jr.; and Association of Barangay Councils provincial federation President Rigel Sanchez, among others.