PASAY CITY -- Through a live television interview with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Monday, July 26, Hajie Alvaro, a housewife from Camarines Sur, expressed that her family has been knocking on doors through social media since they learned that her five-year-old daughter, Riley, was diagnosed with brain tumor, astrocytoma hydrocephalus, and edema.

According to her doctor, Riley will be needing an operation, diagnostic examinations, and medications. However, Alvaro expressed that she is hesitant as these said procedures are beyond their financial means considering that her husband is the only one providing for their three children.

“Kailangan ko po talaga ngayon pangtustos po talaga sa panggastos ng anak ko. Tapos doon sa medicine niya po talaga, tapos sa CT scan po…, tapos ‘yung … monthly niya po (na) check up, tapos ‘yung mga vitamins niya pa po,” Alvaro said.

“Medyo mahal po kasi talaga mga gamot niya. Hindi ko po kaya ‘yon. Sa isang linggo po, inaabot lang po ng one week gamot niya, hindi po sapat ‘yung sahod ng asawa ko para matustusan ‘yung pangangailangan ng anak ko,” she added.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go reached out to Riley’s family and pledged his support for her medical expenses to ensure her speedy recovery.

“Nanay Hajie, kung ano pa ang mga kailangan mo sa pagpapagamot ng iyong anak, magsabi ka lang po, kami na ho ang sasagot,” said Go.

“Huwag niyo na pong alalahanin ‘yung babayaran ninyo. Ang importante po, makasalba man lang tayo ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

Go acknowledged Alvaro’s concern as he mentioned that, together with President Rodrigo Duterte and the Malasakit Centers Program, he will be assisting Riley with her hospital bills, such as the operation fees and medical check-ups at the Philippine Heart Center, maintenance medications, and other needs.

Apart from the medical expenses, Go reassured Alvaro that he will also help defray other costs if they may need to perform medical procedures and treatments that are only available in Metro Manila.

“Handa kaming tumulong, huwag niyo na pong alalahanin ‘yung sa CT scan, pati ‘yung ibang gastusin, halimbawa mga pamasahe niyo po papunta sa ospital kung kakailanganin dalhin dito sa mga espesyalista po sa Maynila," Go expressed.

“Tutulong po kami, Nanay Hajie, huwag ka na pong mag-alala. At sa abot ng aming makakaya kami ni Pangulong Duterte ay tutulong po sa ’yo,” he added.

Enacted in 2019, the Malasakit Centers Program was principally authored and sponsored by Go to ensure convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by concerned agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Go also committed to facilitate the provision of additional assistance, if needed, to further help with their daily essentials, such as livelihood support, and financial aid.

The Senator, then, appealed to the public to take advantage of the medical assistance offered through the Malasakit Centers. To date, there are now 130 Malasakit Centers nationwide which have assisted over two million Filipinos.

“Sa mga kababayan nating nakikinig ngayon, kung may mga kailangan kayong pagpapagamot, mayroon na ho tayong 130 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas na handang tumulong po sa inyo,” Go said.

“Bukas po lagi ang aming tanggapan, kung ano pa po puwede naming maitulong sa mga kababayan namin ay nandirito lang po kami ni Pangulong Duterte,” he ended.

During his last State of the Nation Address, President Duterte highlighted the Malasakit Centers as one of the key programs of his term that made a huge positive impact on the lives of Filipinos as he commended Senator Go for initiating it and bringing government closer to the people.

“Sa pagtatag ng Malasakit Centers, hindi po kailangan lumapit at humingi ng tulong sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno. Ang gobyerno na ang lumalapit sa tao,” the President earlier said. (OSBG)