Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, paid a visit to the Malasakit Center at Baybay City Immaculate Conception Hospital in Leyte on Friday, June 16, in line with his advocacy to improve health infrastructures in the country.
In his speech, Go highlighted that the establishment of Malasakit Centers across the country is a testament to the government’s efforts to bolster the healthcare system.
The Malasakit Centers program was initiated by Go in 2018 and was later institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which he principally authored and sponsored. To date, there are 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
The program streamlines the process of accessing medical assistance from the government by bringing agencies that offer health-related assistance programs under one roof, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
“As Chairman ng Committee on Health, priority ko talaga itong Malasakit Center para mayroon kayong nalalapitan sa inyong pagpapaospital. Nandito na ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno, ang PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD na tutulong sa inyong pagpapaospital. Lapitan niyo yang Malasakit Center. Para yan sa Pilipino, pagmamay-ari niyo yang Malasakit Center. Para yan sa inyo,” Go explained.
Aside from the Malasakit Center visited by Go, there are also Malasakit Centers at Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City which he visited later that day, and at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban. Two other centers are located in the town of Palo at Leyte Provincial Hospital, and at Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis.
“Mga kababayan, nandito ako ngayon. Masaya ako (dahil) about two years ago, bumisita kami dito ni former president Rodrigo Duterte. Dito siya nagpa-meeting noong nagka-landslide noon, binisita rin namin noon ang inyong Malasakit Center,” Go shared.
“Bisaya rin ako na nagmamahal sa inyo dito sa Leyte. Itrato n'yo lang ako na parang inyong kapitbahay, wag niyo akong itrato na ibang tao. Tawagin n'yo lang akong Bong Go, Kuya Bong Go,” he added, who was declared an adopted son of Leyte through a resolution presented to him earlier that day.
During the monitoring visit, Go also provided assistance to 30 out-patients, 140 in-patients, and 192 frontliners, including security guards, utilities, and hospital staff. The said beneficiaries received food packs, masks, vitamins, shirts, and snacks while select individuals were given bicycles, mobile phones, shoes, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
Meanwhile, a team from the DSWD extended financial assistance to qualified in-patients.
Apart from checking the operations of the Malasakit Center, Go also inspected the ongoing construction of a boardwalk that he supported the funding of as Vice-chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
The senator also emphasized that the boardwalk serves as a tourist attraction, adding that improved connectivity strengthens the local economy and facilitates the overall growth and development of the region.
Go also continues to support more projects in the city, including the construction of flood mitigation structures, septage, and sewer system in several barangays. He was also instrumental in the rehabilitation of a slaughterhouse and the construction of an evacuation center, as well as the acquisition of medical equipment for the Baybay City Immaculate Conception Hospital.
“Wag kayong mahiya, partner lahat tayo. (Sa mga) doctor, salamat, sa frontliners natin, (maraming salamat) sa inyong sakripisyo sa panahon ng pandemya. Ang doktor, ang bisyo nila ay manggamot ng pasyente, ang bisyo ng social worker tulungan ang mahihirap. Ako aaminin ko sa inyo, mayroon akong bisyo, ang aking bisyo ay magserbisyo sa inyo,” emphasized Go.
“Uulitin ko, bukas po ang aking opisina para sa inyong lahat, mga kababayan ko. Mga bisaya, alam n'yo, tama ang mga sinasabi na mabigat sa ating mga bisaya ang utang na loob. Kami ni (dating) presidente Duterte, alam namin tumanaw ng utang na loob kaya nandito ako, handang magserbisyo sa inyong lahat,” he concluded.
The senator also supported the construction of Super Health Centers nationwide. One such center was founded in the city which he inspected that day.
Super Health Centers offer basic health services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services in Super Health Centers are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
During the visit, Go recognized the efforts of Governor Carlos Jericho "Icot" Petilla, Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos "Boying" Cari and Vice Mayor Ernesto Butawan, Vice Governor Sandy Javier, Cong. Carl Cari, Cong. Karen Javier, Board Member Carlo Loreto, and other local officials for their commitment to bring government services closer to their constituents.
On the same day, the provincial government of Leyte, led by Governor Petilla, declared Go as the province’s adopted son during the 16th Charter Day Celebration of Baybay City. The resolution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan recognizes Go's deep friendship, unwavering support, and invaluable contributions to the province and its people.
Moreover, Go visited Ormoc City where he spearheaded a relief operation for indigents, checked the operations of the Ormoc District Hospital’s Malasakit Center, and inspected other infrastructure projects such as sports facilities he earlier supported together with the LGU officials.
