SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go had his Malasakit Team visit Quezon City on January 24 and 25 to join Councilor Mikey Belmonte in providing relief and support to the city’s constituents.
The outreach activities were held at various covered courts in Commonwealth, Batasan Hills, and Payatas. A total of 500 residents received grocery packs, while 400 children received toys from Councilor Belmonte. Meanwhile, Go’s Malasakit Team provided select recepients shirts and balls for basketball and volleyball.
“Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Sa totoo lang po, ako po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil ako po’y probinsyano lamang na binigyan nyo po ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo,” Go said.
“Palagi po tayong magdasal at magtiwala po sa gobyerno. Palagi po tayong magtulungan at magmalasakit sa kapwa at sama-sama rin nating malalagpasan ang kahit na anumang pagsubok,” he added.
As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go mentioned that there are 11 Malasakit Centers across the city if they need assistance with any medical-related expenses.
In 2018, Go launched the Malasakit Centers program, having seen firsthand the hardships faced by patients who could not afford health care. He is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized it.
Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops bringing together medical assistance programs of various agencies to support impoverished patients with their hospital expenses. According to the DOH, the 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide have assisted around ten million Filipinos.
Malasakit Centers in Quezon City are located at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine National Police General Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center.
Meanwhile, Go also supported the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide. He cited that Super Health Centers are designed to focus on primary care, consultation, and early detection, further strengthening the healthcare sector in the country, especially in grassroots communities.
As the vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, along with backing from the DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and collaborative efforts of LGUs and other legislators, ample funding was allocated in the 2022 to present to establish more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide — six of which will be located in Quezon City.
Go also emphasized the importance of RA 11959, known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, for which he was the principal sponsor and one of the authors in the Senate. This law aims to create Regional Specialty Centers within current regional hospitals run by the DOH.
Go supported more infrastructure initiatives in the city, including the construction of multipurpose buildings, road rehabilitation, drainage improvement, and flood control structures in several barangays. He also supported the repair of Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Road Network and the acquisition of an ambulance, a dump truck, and four multicabs. Lastly, he also helped secure funding for the vertical expansion of a new emergency building at the Philippine Heart Center and the rehabilitation building at the Philippine Orthopedic Center.
