THE country’s 167th Malasakit Center officially opens at Tamparan District Hospital in Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, on Monday, February 10. The Malasakit Centers program aims to ease the burden on poor and indigent patients who otherwise face the challenge of visiting multiple offices to seek government health assistance.
The Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Senator Christopher “Bong” Go principally authored and sponsored. The law mandates all Department of Health-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital to establish Malasakit Centers, with the option for other public hospitals to do the same if they meet the operational standards set by the law and upon assessment of DOH.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, was invited to witness the opening ceremony together with representatives from national agencies and local officials.
“Ang Malasakit Center, ito po’y one-stop shop kung saan nasa loob na po ng iisang kwarto sa ospital ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno na may medical assistance programs para tulungan kayo. Hindi na po kailangan bumyahe nang malayo at pumila sa iba’t ibang opisina para humingi ng tulong pampagamot mula sa gobyerno,” Go explained.
Additionally, according to the DOH, the Malasakit Centers have collectively assisted over 15 million Filipinos since the program’s inception in 2018.
“Para sa lahat ng mga Pilipino ang Malasakit Centers lalo na sa mahihirap na pasyente na walang ibang malapitan kundi ang gobyerno. Pera po ninyo ‘yan na ibinabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng serbisyong tapat, at dapat na mabilis at maaasahan,” he added.
The newly inaugurated Malasakit Center at Tamparan District Hospital is the second in Lanao del Sur, following the one at Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City. This is part of 44 Malasakit Centers operational in Mindanao, aside from the 30 in Visayas and 93 in Luzon.
As an invited guest, Go recognized the efforts of Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, Minister of Health Dr. Kalid Sinolinding, Mayor Muhammad Juhar Disomimba, and other officials present, for their support in ensuring that healthcare remains a priority in their community.
Senator Go continues to push for legislation that improves access to healthcare services, particularly for indigent and underserved communities. Aside from Malasakit Centers, Go also advocated for the continued establishment of more Super Health Centers nationwide, designed to decongest hospitals by offering primary healthcare, consultations, and early detection services at the community level. So far, over 600 Super Health Centers have been funded through the collaborative efforts of Go as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, the DOH, local government units, and fellow lawmakers — including eight in Lanao del Sur.
Additionally, Senator Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which brings specialized medical care to all regions by establishing specialty centers in every DOH-run regional hospital.
On the same day, Go also inspected the construction of Lanao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Marantao and aided impoverished residents in Marawi City.
“Hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung pagkakataong ibinigay niyo po sa akin. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino. At iyan po ang pwede kong i-alay sa inyo, ang aking kasipagan at ang bisyo ko sa pagseserbisyo,” Go concluded.
