Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go personally spearheaded the launch of the country’s 147th Malasakit Center at the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital (CSGH) in Culion, Palawan on Wednesday (Nov. 3).
This is the second Malasakit Center in Palawan following Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City. It is also the 81st in Luzon and the sixth in Region IV-B.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go said in his speech that he will continue to push for improved access to healthcare services, especially amid the ongoing national health crisis.
Go cited the challenges faced by many public hospitals and struggles of low-income Filipinos that led him to initiate the establishment of the first Malasakit Center in 2018.
After being elected senator in 2019, Go principally authored and sponsored the measure that became Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act. The measure mandates all Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals plus the Philippine General Hospital to establish their own Malasakit Centers.
Meanwhile, other public hospitals may open their own provided that they meet the standard criteria and can guarantee the sustainability of the operations of their respective Malasakit Centers.
“Sabi ko, bakit natin pahirapan ‘yung mga kababayan natin na pwede naman natin ilagay sa isang kwarto ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno. Ang DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development], PCSO [Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office], DOH, at PhilHealth,” Go said.
“Hindi pa ako senador, nailagay na namin sa Cebu noong 2018. Noong naging senador po ako, nadagdagan po. Ngayon mandated by law, including all DOH hospitals, magkakaroon ho ng Malasakit Center, isa na po ito sa mga huling DOH hospital na lalagyan po ng Malasakit Center,” he added.
Go also said he and the DOH will be committed to allocate necessary funds to further enhance the capabilities and facilities of CSGH.
“Sa lahat po ng mga healthcare workers, mga frontliners, mula sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte, maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong serbisyo sa panahon ngayon. Salamat. Hindi po nababayaran ng kahit anuman po ang inyong sakripisyo sa panahon ngayon,” Go said.
“Nag-usap kami ni doctor (Arturo Cunanan) kanina, kung ano pong pwede kong maitulong sa inyong ospital ay handa po akong tumulong at ipaglalaban ko po kayo. Ako po ay nag-file po ng Salary Standardization Law at ‘yung salary disparity po, ‘yung distortion ng salary ninyo, pinaglaban rin po natin ‘yun,” he added.
He then encouraged the public to help the government and all health workers in the fight against COVID-19 by participating in the national vaccination program.
“Kapag mayroon na hong bakuna diyan sa harapan niyo, huwag na kayong mag-atubiling magpabakuna. Ngayon po mahigit 50% pa lang sa mga senior citizens. Wala naman po itong pilitan pero sa mga senior citizens, kayo po ‘yung vulnerable. Kung gusto niyo pong tulungan ang ating mga health workers, magpabakuna na ho kayo,” Go appealed.
Go’s team then distributed meals, grocery packs, masks, and vitamins to 107 patients and 423 medical frontliners after the launch. Meanwhile, representatives from the DSWD provided financial assistance to the patients and 279 rank-and-file CSGH employees.
The senator also gave computer tablets, bicycles, and new pairs of shoes to selected beneficiaries to further help them with their daily lives.
During the event, President Rodrigo Duterte left a short message, via phone call, expressing his gratitude to the residents of Culion for their support for the government, saying, “Ang Malasakit Center, para iyan sa inyo. Iyan lang ang maibigay natin ngayon at kung ano pa ang kayang ibigay, eh ibibigay ko sa inyo. Maraming salamat po.”
As it is hours away from Puerto Princesa City and considered to be one of the most remote islands in the country, the municipality of Culion gave recognition to Go for being the first senator who visited and extended help to their small island.
“Kahit na nasa dulo sila ng island po ng Palawan, ipinaabot pa rin po natin ang tulong ninyo sa kanila para hindi na sila kailangang maglakbay papuntang Puerto Princesa dahil napakalayo po. Isang araw ang paglakbay nitong mula Culion papunta ho ng Puerto Princesa. Nagpapasalamat po ang lahat ng mga pasyente rito, Mr. President. Salamat po,” Go said. (Office of SBG) – jlo
