SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, also known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate brand of service for vulnerable sectors, assisted 500 indigents in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, on Friday, May 3.
Held at the covered court of Barangay 6, Go’s Malasakit Team distributed snacks, shirts, masks, and vitamins to all beneficiaries, and they also gave shoes, a mobile phone, a watch, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients to promote grassroots sports development as Chair of the Senate Sports Committee.
Qualified residents received financial aid from the government in collaboration with Mayor Jun Roble.
“Mga kababayan ko bilang inyong senador, hindi ko po matiis na nakaupo lamang sa opisina habang ang mga kababayan natin ay nangangailangan po ng tulong. Huwag nating limitahan ang ating trabaho bilang legislator. Parte rin ng aking trabaho ang constituency services at representation,” said Go.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, one of Go’s priorities is to enhance access to healthcare and bring the government services closer to Filipinos in need.
He then urged those in need of health-related support to visit Butuan Medical Center in Butuan City which has a Malasakit Center.
The senator initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018. It was later institutionalized by Republic Act No. 11463, which he principally authored and sponsored.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop, where Filipinos can conveniently access medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
To date, there are 164 Malasakit Centers nationwide. According to the DOH, more than ten million patients already benefitted from the program since it started.
