Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go led the launching of the newest Malasakit Center at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City.
“Tuloy-tuloy po itong programang ito, wala po kaming limit as long as kaya ng gobyerno ang mag lagay ng Malasakit Center sa mga ospital (The program is continuous, there is no limit as long as the government can place Malasakit Centers in hospitals),” the former palace official said.
The initiative, which came into fruition when Go was still serving as presidential aide, is a project of the Office of the President (OP) in coordination with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Department of Health, PhilHealth, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
In 2018, the OP allocated a total of P100 million replenishable fund for the program.
The launch in Quezon City brings to 19 the total number of Malasakit centers in the Philippines.
Go assured that the administration will sustain and continue to establish more Malasakit Centers nationwide.
“The administration will sustain and continue to establish more Malasakit Centers nationwide.”
Go added that the initiative will complement the Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill once signed into law.
The UHC bill seeks to provide all Filipinos access to health care and services through their automatic enrollment to the National Health Insurance Program.
Once established, Go said the Malasakit Centers will serve as a fallback for Filipinos seeking medical care in case their health care coverage provided under the UHC has been expended.
“The Malasakit Centers will serve as a fallback in case their health care coverage provided under UHC has been expended.”
In the past few months, Malasakit Centers were established in Bulacan, Tacloban, Palawan, and Negros Oriental.
The 20th Malasakit Center will be unveiled in Batangas.
Go said coordination with several stakeholders are ongoing for the opening of Malasakit Centers in Bataan, Siquijor, Ormoc, Catbalogan, Guimaras, and Antique.
