FORMER SPECIAL Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go clarified that Malasakit Centers are open to every Filipino and they don’t need any endorsement of a politician or anybody else to avail themselves of medical assistance from these centers.
Go made the statement over a picture posted in social media of fake Malasakit Assistance ID Cards. The picture of the supposed ID card was posted in the twitter account of a known critic of the Duterte administration. “Kagaya ng sinabi ko noon hindi na po kailangan ng ID kahit saang Malasakit Center, basta Pilipino qualified,” Go stressed in a radio interview.
“Para po sa mga nangangailangan naman ng tulong mula sa Malasakit Center, pumunta lang po kayo doon para sa medical assistance na kailangan ninyo. Kung may nag-abot sa inyo ng ID cards na may mukha ng kahit sinong pulitiko at sinasabing kailangan yan, itapon niyo nalang dahil hindi yan totoo,” he added.
Go stressed that Malasakit Centers are operated by the government and sustained by public funds and so nobody has the right to lay claim to it as their own personal project. “Ang Malasakit Center ay itinayo para makatulong sa lahat ng Pilipino. Hindi niyo kailangan ng kahit anong endorsement mula sa pulitiko para makakuha ng assistance. Pera po ng tao iyan, ibinabalik lang sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng serbisyong tama at walang pinipili,” Go said in a separate statement posted in his Facebook page.
A Malasakit Center is a project of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte inspired by the experiences of Go when he was attending to the concerns of people seeking assistance from then Davao Mayor Duterte. It is a one-stop shop bringing together in one roof all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PAGCOR, PCSO and Philhealth to make it easier and faster for indigent patients to get medical and financial assistance from the government.
Go also noted that when the Malasakit Center was being conceptualized during his term as SAP, he and all representatives of the concerned government agencies have agreed that the center would not require those seeking assistance to secure endorsement from political figures. “Hindi na po kailangan ‘yan ID na ‘yan. Kagaya ng sinabi ko walang politika dito kalaban o oposisyon, administrasyon basta Pilipino ay qualified ka. Kahit ‘yung mga naninirang mga nasa blogger na naglalagay ng fake news eh pati po kayo pwede magpagamot,” Go said.
Go said he would just pray for those who are spreading malicious insinuations about him and the Malasakit Centers. “Hayaan na natin sila sa mga naninira, kung diyan po kayo masaya ay ipagdadasal ko na lang po kayo, salamat po at at least ay mas lalo po akong pinag uusapan ng tao, salamat sa pagpapakilala po sa akin,” he said.
The former SAP said no amount of black propaganda will stop him from pursuing his advocacy to serve the Filipino people and support the programs and policies of President Duterte. “Kasama po ako siyempre kay Pangulong Duterte. Kagaya ng sinabi ko ano mga programa niya ay ipagpapatuloy ko po,” Go said. “Basta ako po serbisyo lang ako, trabaho lang ako patuloy pa din akong magtratrabaho walang makakapigil sa pag seserbisyo namin ni Pangulong Duterte. Kagaya ng sinabi ko sa inyo wala kaming ibang hangarin kung hindi kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino, serbisyo lang kami.”
Apart from seeking improved delivery of medical service, including the move to institutionalize Malasakit Centers, Go’s legislative agenda include agriculture, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, housing, education, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, fire protection and prevention, creation of a Department of OFW, barangay welfare, and improved support for senior citizens. (Jun Ledesma)
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