MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go personally attended the launch of the 101st Malasakit Center at the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte the other day.
The Malasakit Center is the fourth in Ilocos Region. The three others are at the Gabriela Silang General Hospital in Vigan City, Region I Medical Center in Dagupan City and Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union.
All provinces in Region 1 now have their own Malasakit Centers.
In his speech, the senator vowed to push for measures that would ensure accessible quality healthcare for all.
He also thanked those who supported the Malasakit Centers program and contributed to its continuing success.
Go, chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography, said advancing health services must coincide with the campaign against corruption.
He said systemic corruption, particularly in the public health sector, cripples public service delivery.
“Together with Sen. Imee Marcos, I will combat the corruption at Philippine Health Insurance Corp. There are a few erring people there, but there are also good employees willing to provide honest service,” Go, who met with Marcos prior to the event, said.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that streamlines medical assistance programs of various government agencies so that patients, particularly the poor, can conveniently avail of such services. Among these agencies are the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, PhilHealth and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
After the event, Go’s team distributed packed meals, food packs, vitamins, face masks and face shields to 73 patients in the hospital.
Selected hospital employees were given new shoes or bicycles. Others received computer tablets for their children’s educational needs.