DELIA Daan of Talisay City, Cebu, never imagined that a sudden trip to the emergency room would become a lesson in both fear and gratitude. Her son, Dan Gerald, was rushed to Cebu South Medical Center, formerly known as Talisay District Hospital, with acute appendicitis—a diagnosis that often comes with not only pain but also a heavy financial burden. Yet, for the Daan family, the ordeal ended not with crushing debt, but with profound relief, thanks to the Malasakit Center at the said hospital.
“Ang natanggap naming tulong, sir, ay ang Zero Balance Billing program para sa operasyon ng appendicitis,” shared Daan. “Kaya wala kaming binayaran sa operasyon ng appendicitis. Dahil sa zero balance, hindi kami nabigatan sa gastusin.”
The Malasakit Center initiative, a key element of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s health reforms crusade, was pivotal in ensuring that the Daans left the hospital free from medical debt.
Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops aiming to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.
As of now, 167 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The Department of Health (DOH) reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 17 million Filipinos.
For Daan, the program is proof that meaningful reform can reach everyday families when they need it most. “Hindi ko alam kung paano namin malalampasan ito kung wala ang Malasakit Center. Napakalaking tulong talaga.”
In Cebu, stories like the Daans’ are becoming increasingly common. Health reforms crusader Senator Go, who has long championed programs that prioritize affordable healthcare, believes that the success of the Malasakit Center initiative is measured in the voices of those it has helped.
“Ang Malasakit Center ay para sa bawat Pilipinong nangangailangan ng tulong. Dapat, ‘pag may sakit, gobyerno ang lalapit sa tao, hindi ang tao ang lalapit sa gobyerno,” Senator Go has stated.
The journey from fear to relief for the Daan family is just one among millions, but it underscores a broader transformation in the country’s healthcare landscape—one defined by access, compassion, and, above all, malasakit.
