ILOILO CITY (PIA) - - The province of Iloilo has now four Malasakit Centers that beneficiaries and their loved ones could visit if they need medical aid, Senator Christopher Bong Go said during his recent visit in Passi City.

Go and his team distributed assistance to 1,335 residents affected by typhoon Paeng on March 12.

The Senator, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered the additional assistance to those with health concerns as part of his commitment to provide Filipinos better access to quality healthcare services.

The Malasakit Centers are located at the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital in Santa Barbara, and West Visayas State University Medical Center and Western Visayas Medical Center, both in Iloilo City.

Across the country, there are now 156 Malasakit Centers which have assisted over 7-million Filipinos.

and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.

“Yung mga nasa probinsiya po, lalo na yung mga nasa liblib na lugar, yun po ang target na tayuan ng mga Super Health Centers. Para po masiguro na hindi na po nila kailangan maglakbay at gumastos ng malaki para lang makapagpaospital,” said Go.

Some 307 SHCs were funded in 2022 through Go’s initiative and with the support of the Department of Health and his fellow lawmakers. Additional funds for 322 SHCs were also allocated in the 2023 health budget.

a seawall in Banate; construction of the legislative building complete with facilities in San Dionisio; and improvement of the public parks in Dueñas.

Go thanked all the local officials for serving their constituents, including Iloilo 4th District Representative Ferj Biron, Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr., Vice Governor Tingting Garin, Passi City Mayor Stephen Palmares, Vice Mayor Elyzer Chavez, among others, in his message.

He also recognized Department of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Jesry Palmares who is from Passi City.

“Basta kaya lang po ng aking oras at katawan ay pupuntahan ko po kayo para magserbisyo sa abot ng aking makakaya. Hindi ko po matiis na nakaupo lang sa opisina habang may mga kababayan tayong nangangailangan ng tulong,” he said.

On the same day, Go also conducted an inspection of the Super Health Center in Maayon, Capiz, where he also provided assistance to struggling residents.

Later that day, Go joined the Philippine Basketball Association All-Star festivities held in Passi City. He participated in the Shooting Stars Challenge where his team won the contest. (JBG/Office of SBG/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)