SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go virtually attended the launch of the Pulis-Makatao one-stop shop initiative held at the Philippine National Police national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
It is an initiative of the PNP inspired by the concept of the Malasakit Center that seeks to streamline various services for their personnel and dependents.
“Alam ko na marami sa ating mga pulis ang nais magkaroon ng malusog at mabuting buhay para sa kanilang mga pamilya. You and your families deserve better,” Go said in his speech through a video message.
“Kaya po hinahangaan ko at sinusuportahan ang inisyatibo ninyo, ng PNP, na i-adopt ang sistema na kasalukuyan nating ginagamit sa Malasakit Center,” he added.
According to the PNP, the Pulis-Makatao initiative is envisioned to be a one-stop shop dedicated to police personnel and their families where they can conveniently avail of assistance, such as medical, housing, livelihood and other internal services provided by the PNP to their personnel.
“Bukod sa Malasakit Centers sa mga pampublikong ospital na tumutugon sa mga pangangailangang pangkalusugan, maganda ang naisip ng PNP na gumawa rin ng one-stop shop kung saan mas madaling makakakuha ng assistance para sa edukasyon, housing, livelihood, employment, at iba pang mga serbisyo para sa inyo at inyong mga pamilya,” Go explained.
With this, the PNP’s plan is similar to the concept of the Malasakit Center — a one-stop shop to help poor and indigent patients conveniently avail of medical assistance.
Establishing Malasakit Centers in public hospitals was initiated by Go even before he became Senator and is now institutionalized through a law enacted last year which he principally authored and sponsored as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
“Dahil sa inyong sariling bersyon ng Malasakit Center, pwede kayong makakuha ng mga ayuda mula sa PNP Medical Services, Retirement Benefits Assistance Program, Housing Assistance Program, Financial Education Program, Livelihood Training Program for Spouses, at marami pa pong iba,” he said, commending the initiative of PNP.
According to the PNP, they also plan to eventually make other services available through the Pulis-Makatao Malasakit Centers, such as Employment Program for Retired Personnel, Scholarship Programs for Dependents, Cultural Orientation Programs and other possible services that can be provided by partner agencies both from the government and the private sector.
In his speech, Go also emphasized that President Rodrigo Duterte and this administration prioritizes the welfare of the police force in recognition of its crucial role in the campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.
“Mataas ang respeto namin ni Pangulong Duterte sa mga pulis. Gusto po namin na lahat ng ating pulis ay may access sa mga social services dahil karapat-dapat lang din po ito sa inyo,” Go said.
Go also narrated how President Duterte pushed for the increase of salaries of uniformed personnel in the beginning of his term in fulfillment of his campaign promise.
“Nakita ko talaga ‘yung pagmamahal ni Pangulo sa mga pulis… sinabihan niya ako noon na i-follow-up ko sa mga Senador, sabi niya, ‘Bong, sabihin mo sa mga Senador—kung hindi niya matutupad ‘yung pinangako niya, magre-resign po siya’,” Go recalled.
“Unahin niya ‘yung pagdodoble ng sahod ng mga pulis, dahil naiintindihan niya po ‘yung trabaho ng isang pulis. Not only that, para talagang makuntento naman po sila sa kanilang sahod at mayroon po silang madadala sa kanilang mga pamilya,” he shared further as he narrated how he relayed Duterte’s message to legislators when he was still serving as the Special Assistant to the President.
“I’m sure masaya po kayo, dahil natupad po ‘yan noong January of 2018… Isa lang po ang pakiusap namin sa inyo, pagserbisyuhan po natin ng buong katapatan ang ating kapwa Pilipino,” he emphasized.
