SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go remains committed to improving public health services for underserved communities during the Serbisyo Caravan in Enrile, Cagayan, on Friday, May 10.
In collaboration with Mayor Miguel Decena, the caravan provided a wide range of services, including medical check-ups, dental extractions, blood typing, distribution of vegetable seeds, haircuts, food aid, issuing IDs to senior citizens, and Operation Tuli, among others.
Held at the Barangay San Jose Gymnasium, Go, an adopted son of Enrile town, had his Malasakit Team distribute shirts, balls for basketball and volleyball, shoes, and vitamins to 3,000 residents.
Go likewise encouraged those with health issues to visit the nearest Malasakit Center located at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Tuguegarao City to assist them with their medical-related expenses.
Senator Go principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act, which mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in qualified public hospitals in accordance with the law. Currently, 165 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The DOH reports that the Malasakit Center program has already aided more or less ten million Filipinos.
“Ang target po ng Malasakit Center ay matulungan kayong mabayaran ang inyong billing. Kaya huwag po kayong mahihiyang lumapit sa Malasakit Center dahil para po yan sa inyo, mga kababayan kong Pilipino. At ngayon po, meron na po tayong 165 na Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo,” explained Go.
The Senator also advocates for more health facilities nationwide, such as Super Health Centers, to bring primary care, medical consultationa and early disease detection closer to remote and underserved communities.
In the province of Cagayan, Go, the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has supported the funding for eleven Super Health Centers.
“Ilapit natin ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga nangangailangan nito lalo na pagdating sa kalusugan ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan. Bilang inyong Mr. Malasakit, patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” underscored Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.
