SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his commitment to serve the Filipino people, especially the less fortunate.
“Bisyo ko na po ang magserbisyo,” Go said.
“Iyung slogan ko dati sa kampanya, paninindigan ko po ‘yon. Twenty-four seven, kahit anong kailangan ninyo, sa abot ng aming makakaya, gagawin namin,” the senator added.
Sen. Go attended the launch of the country’s 87th Malasakit Center in Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital in Cainta, Rizal on Friday, October 16.
The Malasakit Center, a one-stop shop for medical and financial assistance, is the third of its kind in Rizal, the others being in Antipolo City Hospital System Annex IV-Mambugan in Antipolo City and Margarito A. Duavit Memorial Hospital in Binangonan.
In his speech, Go reminded members of the hospital staff to serve their patients well, particularly those belonging to poor and vulnerable sectors, such as senior citizens and persons with disabilities, by ensuring the quality of care they receive.
“Salamat rin sa inyong tiwala at paniniwala sa ating Pangulo [Rodrigo Duterte]. Huwag kayong mag-alala, hindi kayo bibiguin ni Pangulo. Up to the last day of his term, gagawin niya ang lahat at ako, tutulungan ko po siya sa lahat ng mga hangarin niya para sa ating bansa,” Go said.
“Iyung pagbabago na ipinangako niya noon sa inyo laban sa kriminalidad, nararamdaman ninyo naman pag maglakad kayo sa kalye […] pati pulis disiplinado dahil alam nila na ‘pag mayroong scalawag sa kasamahan nila ay yayariin ni Pangulo. So, makikita mo pag nasa taas ‘yung disiplina at ‘yung lider, nirerespeto, sunud-sunod na po ‘yan hanggang sa baba,” he said.
Go also reminded the public to be vigilant and hold their leaders accountable by speaking out against corruption and mismanagement within the government.
“Kung mayroon kayong reklamo at nakikitang katiwalian sa gobyerno, i-report ninyo po sa PACC. Magtiwala kayo sa gobyerno. Alam ninyo, hindi tayo aasenso kung hindi kayo magre-report. Eh, paano natin huhulihin ‘yung mga corrupt kung hindi ninyo naman isusumbong sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte? Bukas po ang aming tanggapan diyan,” assured Go.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together under one roof all the national agencies from which patients may apply for aid, namely, the Department of Health, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and PCSO.
He recounted his experiences working for then Davao City mayor Duterte which spurred him to open the first Malasakit Center in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City last February 2018.
“Fifteen years ago, ang dami pong lumalapit sa City Hall ng Davao City, may dala pong hospital bill. Lunes palang, hihingi ‘yan ng tulong kay mayor. Martes, pupunta po ‘yan sa PCSO. Miyerkules, pupunta po ‘yan sa DOH at Huwebes, pupunta ‘yan sa PhilHealth, sa DSWD,” he began.
“Ubos ‘yung panahon ng pasyente sa kakapila, ubos ‘yung pamasahe at minsan po, mangungutang pa kung may balanse […] Dumudugo ‘yung puso ko tuwing natatanggihan ‘yung mga pasyente. Kaya noong naging Senador ako, ipinangako ko na gagawin ko itong batas para kahit hindi na po Pangulo si Pangulong Duterte at hindi na po ako Senador, batas na po ito at hindi na po mahihirapan ‘yung mga pasyente natin,” he explained.
Last December, President Duterte signed Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. The law directs the establishment of a Malasakit Center in the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City and every DOH-run hospital throughout the country. ###
