To ensure the efficient operations of Malasakit Centers, Senator Bong Go conducted a monitoring visit to one of the 157 Malasakit Centers in the country at Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital (OMPH) in Calapan City.
During the inspection, Go personally checked the situation of the hospital’s staff and likewise thanked them for their hard work and dedication to serve patients, saying, “Huwag nating kalimutang palakpakan ang hero sa panahon ng pandemya. Hindi po natin mararating ito kundi sa sakripisyo ng ating mga doctors, nurses, medtechs, down to the utility workers and security guards. Sa ating mga frontliners, maraming salamat sa inyo.”
The legislator and his team then provided assistance, such as grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks to 604 frontliners, including security guards, utility workers, and other hospital staff; and 300 patients. They also provided bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, watches, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial assistance to qualified indigent patients.
Continuing his remarks, the lawmaker also gave recognition to DOH, Malasakit Center assigned personnel, hospital staff and local officials, including Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor, Vice Governor Ejay Falcon, Calapan City Mayor Malou Morillo, and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Cielo Ante, among others, for looking after their constituents and bringing government medical services closer to the grassroots.
“Unahin po natin ‘yung mga kababayan nating mahihirap, ‘yung mga helpless, mga hopeless.”
“Isa lang po ang pakiusap ko sa ating mga Malasakit Center workers, social workers, medical chief, sa lahat po ng narito, unahin po natin ‘yung mga kababayan nating mahihirap, ‘yung mga helpless, mga hopeless po na walang matakbuhan po kundi itong ospital. Tulungan po natin silang lahat… Ang pumupunta po dito ‘yung talagang mahihirap nating kababayan. Huwag ho natin silang pabayaan. Full support po ako sa inyong ospital,” the senator urged.
The Malasakit Centers program was initiated by Go in 2018 when he was still the special assistant to the former president Rodrigo Duterte. The center serves as a one stop shop for concerned agencies to streamline the process of availing medical assistance for particularly poor and indigent patients.
“There are already 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide which have helped more than seven million patients in need.”
The Malasakit Center in OMPH was launched at the height of the pandemic in September 2020. There are already 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide which have helped more than seven million patients in need, according to the Department of Health.
As part of his commitment to provide disadvantaged Filipinos with greater access to affordable health care, Go also attended the Calapan City Super Health Center groundbreaking earlier that day.
The facility will offer a wide range of services, including database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and an ambulatory surgical unit.
Additionally, the Super Health Center provides specialized services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, allowing for remote diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 SHCs in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where SHCs will be constructed.
In the province of Oriental Mindoro, apart from Calapan City, Super Health Centers will also be established in the towns of Bansud, Bulalacao, and Mansalay.
“Napansin ko noon, sa napakalayong lugar, walang access sa ospital yung mga buntis at manganganak na lang sa jeep at tricycle. Sa layo ng biyahe, nanganganak na lang po sila d’yan sa tabi-tabi,” Go said.
“Kaya ngayon po, magkakaroon na po ng Super Health Center sa kanilang komunidad. Para ito sa mga kababayan natin sa malalayong lugar, makakatulong po ito lalo na sa mga mahihirap,” he added.
Meanwhile, Go personally attended the inauguration of the country’s largest port passenger terminal building (PTB) at the Port of Calapan City on the same day.
The P353 million worth infrastructure can accommodate about 3,500 passengers at any given time, from its former 800 seating capacity.
He also briefly inspected the Sentrong Pangkabataan, the funding of which he supported as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.
Lastly, Go led a distribution activity for residents in Pola that are affected by the oil spill incident. Simultaneously, his outreach team was in the town of Roxas and provided similar assistance to affected residents.
