LEMERY, BATANGAS – The government has brought to the people of Batangas easier access to medical assistance following the launch today in the province of a Malasakit Center at the Batangas Provincial Hospital, bringing to 20 the total number of such centers in the country.
A Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that houses in one room all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PAGCOR, PSCO and Philhealth, to make it easier and faster for poor and disadvantaged patients to avail themselves of medical and financial assistance.
The launch of the Malasakit Center was led by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, and witnessed by several local officials of the province including Lemery Mayor Eulalio Alilio, as well as the head of the Batangas Provincial Hospital Dr. Danilo Aguilera.
Go was invited to grace the event in recognition of his important role in the creation of Malasakit Centers. In his message, Go said the establishment of Malasakit Center in Batangas has special significance for him as he is also a Batangueno, noting that his mother came from the Tesoro clan of the province.
“Natutuwa po ako na ngayon ang aking mga kababayang Batangueno ay mayroon nang maaasahang tulong medikal sa panahon na kailanganin nila,” Go said.
In his previous visit to the province, Go had announced that Batangas would soon have its own Malasakit Center. “Isa po itong pangako noon na maglagay tayo rito para po mapalapit ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Batangas,” said Go in an ambush interview.
Go added that if the combined assistance of the different agencies is not enough to cover the hospitalization expenses, the Malasakit Center can drive down the cost to the lowest possible through funds downloaded directly from the Office of the President. “May pondo pong inilaan si Pangulong Duterte dito sa Provincial Hospital ng Batangas,” Go said.
He stressed that the opening of the Malasakit Center in Batangas is the continuation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s efforts to provide all Filipinos with access to quality health care. “Pera nyo po ito, ibinabalik lang sa inyo. Ang gusto lang po namin ni Presidente Duterte ay maglingkod sa inyo,” Go said.
However, Go also urged the Batanguenos to continue supporting President Duterte’s continuing drive against illegal drugs, crime, and corruption. “Obligasyon po ng bawat Pilipino na tumulong at magmalasakit sa kapwa. Lumayo tayo sa iligal na droga, korapsyon at kriminalidad. Yan ang gusto ni Pangulong Duterte para sa mas magandang kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino,” he added.
The opening of the Malasakit Center in Batangas came a day after Go helped inaugurate another such center at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. Go recalled that the seed of the idea of Malasakit Center came from his long years of experience attending to people who sought medical assistance from then Davao Mayor Duterte.
From these experiences, Go said he noted that kin of poor patients normally tries to avail of all the assistance available from various government offices. But since these are located far from each other, it usually takes days before they could get the assistance they need, spending money in the process they would rather spend on the treatment of their patient.
“Ito yung mga panahon na litong-lito yung ating mga kababayan kung saan hihingi ng tulong. Ngayon tayo po ang pupunta sa kanila, tayo na po ang lalapit sa kanila,” Go said. “Ngayon po sa iisang kwarto lang, makukuha nyo na yung tulong na kailangan ninyo.”
The former SAP bared that more Malasakit Centers will open in other areas of the country soon. Go said among his plans if elected to the Senate is to push for a law for the creation of Malasakit Center in all the country’s provinces and urban centers. In addition, Go said part of his legislative agenda is to push for increased salary of nurses to encourage them to render their services here in the country instead of leaving abroad to seek greener pastures.
“Isa po yan sa aking priority kasi nakikita ko napakaliit ng sweldo ng mga nurses dito sa Pilipinas. Kahit hindi man mapantayan yung sa abroad–iba naman ang sahod doon, subalit makakaenganyo po sa kanila na wag na lang pong pumunta sa ibang bansa at manilbihan na lang dito sa ating mga kababayan,” Go said.
Apart from improved delivery of health services, Go’s legislative agenda covers programs for education, agriculture, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, housing, anti-corruption, localized peace talks, fire protection and prevention, creation of a Department of OFW, barangay welfare, and additional benefits for the country’s senior citizens. (Jun Ledesma)
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