As Malasakit Centers continue to prove their effectivity in extending much-needed medical assistance to indigent Filipinos nationwide, the public can expect to see more of these centers open their doors across the country.
This was the promise made by former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go as he launched the Malasakit Center in Legazpi City, Bicol—the 15th in the country in a span of just nine months since President Rodrigo Duterte’s former top aide began the project.
Go stressed, “Marami pa po akong planong buksan na Malasakit Center sa buong bansa kasi nakita ko po talaga na napaka-epektibo. Alam niyo sa panahon na magkasakit, hindi nila alam saan sila pupunta, saan sila hihingi ng tulong.”
(I plan to open more Malasakit Centers in the Philippines because I have seen how effective they are. Otherwise, many Filipinos still wouldn’t know who or where to turn to when they get sick.)
Just last week, six Malasakit Centers in Pampanga, Tagbilaran, Cagayan De Oro, Butuan, Zamboanga, and Legazpi City, Albay were launched. Before these, there were already nine Malasakit Centers in Cebu, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Manila (PGH), Maasin, Dumaguete, and Davao.
Go noted that the Centers need to reach more Filipinos as many still don’t access to free quality healthcare. “Alam kong napakahirap magkasakit so ‘yan po ang aking priority: improved medical services throughout the country.”
(I know how hard it is to get sick nowadays. That is why improving our medical services throughout the country is my priority.)
Malasakit Centers is a program of the Duterte Administration to establish one-stop shops in hospitals to hasten the delivery of free medical services to indigent patients.
Under the program, indigent patients are assisted in availing medical services and financial assistance provided by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Amusement and Games Corporation (PAGCOR), Department of Health (DoH), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
All Filipinos are qualified to avail medical assistance from Malasakit Centers.
“Ang qualification ay Filipino lang. Hindi na kailangan kung ano ang ipapakita mo,” Go said.
(The only qualification is that you are a Filipino. You do not need to present anything else.)
He added, “Itong Malasakit Center ay para sa mga nangangailangan ng gamot. Pera ito ng gobyerno na amin lamang ibinabalik sa inyo.“
(These Malasakit Centers are for you. This is your money, the government is just giving it back to you.)
Additional Malasakit Centers are being eyed in General Santos City, Bulacan, Surigao City, and Maguindanao, among others.
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