PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go extended his warm congratulations to the people of Surigao del Sur on the launch of their first and the country’s 128th Malasakit Center at the Lianga District Hospital in Lianga town on Saturday, July 10.

The Malasakit Center is the fourth in the Caraga region, after the Siargao Island Medical Center (which opened on July 3), Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City in Surigao del Norte, and the Butuan Medical Center in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

“Masaya ako na mayroon na tayong 128 na Malasakit Center na handang tumulong sa mga Pilipino. Kakabukas lang natin last week sa Siargao Island sa Surigao del Norte. So, natutuwa ako na nadagdagan ang locations sa Mindanao at patuloy ang pagbubukas natin sa buong bansa,” Go started in his remarks.

The Malasakit Center aims to make medical assistance programs more accessible by putting together all concerned agencies under one roof, including the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Its primary task is to reduce a hospital bill to the lowest amount possible by covering various patient services and expenses, pursuant to the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which Go principally authored and sponsored in the Senate.

“Para ito sa mga poor at indigent patients. Pakiusap sa mga hospital staff at social workers, tulungan ninyo ang mga kababayan nating mahihirap. Huwag niyo silang pababayaan. Bihira naman pupunta ang mga mayayaman sa mga pampublikong ospital. Ang pupunta dito ay 'yung mga mahihirap na walang matakbuhan,” appealed Go.

The Senator, who is Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, further urged public hospitals to use their funds wisely to provide medical care to its poor patients. He also offered his assistance to those who cannot be treated locally so they can obtain the care that they require at the larger health facilities in Metro Manila or Davao City.

“Kung kulang pa ang tulong ng mga ahensya, (may) pondo rin ang Office of the President dyan. Wala ng dahilan para hindi natin sila tulungan. Gamitin niyo ang pera ng gobyerno sa mga kapos palad natin na pasyente,” directed Go.

“Ngayon, kung may hindi kayang operahan diyan, magsabi lang kayo at kami na ni Pangulong (Rodrigo Duterte) ang sasalo sa kanila. Kaya ayaw magpa-check up at lumalala ang kondisyon ng maraming Pilipino dahil wala silang pambayad. Magtutulungan tayo para masalba sila. Iyan naman ang trabaho namin, ang makatulong,” he continued.

Concluding his remarks, Go thanked and recognized the medical community for all their hard work and sacrifices during this pandemic. He assured them that the national government is fast-tracking the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program throughout the country so it can vaccinate as many Filipinos as soon as possible and minimize community transmissions of the virus.

The Senator stressed that getting vaccinated not only protects an individual but also reduces their risk of getting severe symptoms. He reminded concerned authorities to follow the vaccination priority framework in order not to jeopardize the success of the vaccine drive.

“Habang patuloy tayong nagbabakuna, ‘wag tayo maging kumpiyansa dahil delikado itong COVID-19. Target natin ma-achieve ang population protection this year at ang herd immunity by early next year para unti-unti na natin fully mabuksan ang ekonomiya. Iyan ang hiling namin palagi ni Pangulong Duterte,” said Go.

“Ang importante ay buhay tayo at malampasan natin ang pandemyang ito. Kailangan natin magmalasakit at magbayanihan. Hindi namin kaya ng Pangulo ito kung hindi tayo magtutulungan,” he ended.

After the launch, Go’s personnel distributed meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to 96 medical frontliners. Select frontliners were given new pairs of shoes while others received bicycles for their daily commute. Some were likewise provided computer tablets to help their children with their school activities.

In addition, representatives from the DSWD also distributed financial assistance to 82 rank-and-file hospital employees. Similar assistance were also extended to 35 indigent patients.

“Nagpapasalamat kami para sa Malasakit Center dahil nakahingi kami ng tulong sa mga ahensya para sa pampagamot ng aking anak. Walang trabaho ang aking asawa ngayon at walang-wala talaga kami. Maraming salamat kay Senator Bong Go at sa mga iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno para sa programang ito,” said Evelyn Cocon.

The ceremony was also attended by Secretary Michael Dino of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Assistant Secretary Girlie Veloso of the Office of President, Governor Alexander Pimentel, Lianga Mayor Novelita Sarmen, Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel, and Chief of Hospital Dr. Josenita Quisil.

To boost infrastructure development in the province, Go supported the funding of several projects in Surigao del Sur including the concreting or construction of roads in Barobo, Cagwait, Carmen, Madrid, Marihatag, San Agustin, Tago and Tandag City; construction of an Indigenous People’s evacuation center and multi-purpose center in Hinapoyan; construction of a public market in Lanuza; and purchase of ambulances for Lianga, Lanuza and Cortes, among others. (OSBG)