President Duterte signs into law the Malasakit Center Act and the postponement of the Barangay and SK elections in Malacañang on Tuesday night.

Typhoon “Tisoy” did not deter Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go from opening the 52nd Malasakit Center on Tuesday at the Ospital ng Malabon.

Later in the night, the Malasakit Center Act of 2019 and the measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were signed into laws by President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang.

The President said he is “elated and grateful” with the two laws, which he called “vital in realizing meaningful and lasting reform for the good of our nation.”

The center is a one-stop-shop for easy access to government medical financial assistance, especially of indigent patients.

Agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office are housed at the center.

Go recounted how the Malasakit Center program was conceived to improve the access of Filipinos to quality and efficient healthcare services from the government.

“Noong mayor pa si Pangulong Duterte ng Davao City, maraming lumalapit sa kanya, humihingi ng tulong. Kahit hindi taga-Davao, lalapit kay mayor, may dalang bill ng hospital,” Go said.

“Pero sabi ng Commission on Audit, bawal gamitin ang pera ng Davao sa mga hindi taga-Davao. Doon ko nakita ang puso ni Pangulong Duterte sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong. Sabi sa akin ng Pangulo, ‘Bong, hanapan mo ng paraan. Kahit taga-saan yan, para sa akin, Pilipino rin ang mga ‘yan,'” he added.

“Sabi ko, ano ba ang pwede nating konsepto para hindi na pahirapan ang ating mga kababayan? Ganito po nabuo ang konsepto ng Malasakit Center.”

In these centers, patients or their representatives will only need to go to the Malasakit Center inside hospitals and fill out a single form to seek medical assistance.

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) also have a designated express lane inside the centers.

“Zero balance po ang target natin dito. May express lane din po para sa mga senior citizens at PWDs,” Go said, adding that all Filipinos are entitled to the assistance by the centers.

“Basta Pilipino ka, qualified kang lumapit sa Malasakit Center. Pera po ninyo ito. Inyo po ito,” Go emphasized.

Under the law, hospitals run by local government units and other public hospitals may establish their own Malasakit Centers, provided they meet a standard set of criteria and guarantee the availability of funds for the operation of their centers, including its maintenance, personnel and staff training, among others to ensure sustainability and consistency of the services of the centers.

Republic Act No. 11462, meanwhile, resets the next Barangay and SK elections from the second Monday of May 2020 to 5 December 2022, and on the first Monday of December 2025 and every three years thereafter.

The law extends the term of the current barangay and SK officials from two years to four years and a half.