There are no “partisan or political considerations” in the establishment of Malasakit Centers, as these provide medical assistance to poor Filipinos, Senator Bong Go said.
Go made the statement following the call of Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to investigate the operations of the Malasakit Center as it is being used as a “partisan tool rather than a medical outlet.”
“Ginawa ang Malasakit Center initiative para mabigyan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang serbisyong medikal ang lahat ng Filipino (The Malasakit Center initiative was established to provide fast, efficient, and reliable medical service to all Filipinos),” Go said.
“We are just returning your money through this program.”
“Walang partisan o political considerations, walang pinipili na tutulungan, hindi kailangan ng anumang endorsement letter o ID mula sa pulitiko. Ito po ay isang solusyon ng Duterte administration para sa libu-libong Pilipino na humihingi ng tulong sa gobyerno para lang magpagamot. Pera niyo po ito, ibinabalik lang sa inyo (There are no partisan or political considerations, no selective assistance, no need for any endorsement letter or ID from politicians. This is the solution of the Duterte administration for the thousands of Filipinos who are asking for medical assistance from the government. We are just returning your money [through this program]),” the lawmaker added.
The Malasakit Center program, initiated by the senator under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, is a one-stop-shop established in public hospitals to hasten the delivery of free medical services to indigent patients.
The center is staffed by representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and other government agencies.
“Malasakit Center becomes the processing center or the one-stop-shop found in public hospitals so that patients do not need to waste their time lining up in different government agencies just to seek help,” Go said.
“PCSO does not provide funds in the establishment of Malasakit Centers.”
Go clarified that the PCSO does not provide funds in the establishment of Malasakit
Centers, noting that all the agencies involved retain their medical assistance programs with their separate funds.
“MC is just a streamlining mechanism para mapabilis ang pagbigay ng serbisyo medical at pinansyal sa mga mahihirap na mga pasyente (to hasten the delivery of financial and medical service for our indigent patients),” he added.
Go said he is also open to Lagman’s call for an investigation into the operations of the Malasakit Centers, noting that the very first Malasakit Center that was established in Albay is operating successfully.
“If they want to investigate this, I have no objection. Para po ito sa tao kaya kung gusto nila malaman paano ito nakakatulong, welcome po sila na silipin ang operasyon ng Malasakit Center (This is for the public and we welcome any investigation to look into the operations of Malasakit Centers so they would know how this program is beneficial to the people),” he said.
“Wala pong pinipili ito, para po ito sa bawat Pilipinong nangangailangan. Do not be anti Poor. Huwag po natin ipagkait ang tulong at pagmamalasakit natin sa ating mga kababayan (We are not favoring anyone. This is for every Filipino in need of assistance. Do not be anti-poor. Let’s not deprive Filipinos of such assistance and care),” Go added.