Senator Bong Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, personally visited Jordan, Guimaras on Friday, 19 May, where he checked the operations of a Malasakit Center in the town.

To help ensure quality healthcare services are provided to the residents, Go conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital. In his speech, Go highlighted that there are now 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide that serve as one-stop shops for medical assistance programs, streamlining the process of availing such programs.

“Ako po ang Chairman of Committee on Health sa Senado at ako rin ang Chairman on Sports. Kaya Mr. Malasakit, mayroon na tayong 157 na Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas, kasama na po ang Guimaras, na may Malasakit Center,” said Go.

First established in Cebu in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a brainchild of Go which houses agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to assist particularly poor and indigent patients with their hospital bills.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

During the visit, Go and his team also provided assistance, such as grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks to 217 patients and 512 front liners, including security guards, utilities, and other hospital staff. They also gave away bicycles, shoes, mobile phones, and watches to select beneficiaries.

The senator then mentioned that there will also be Super Health Centers in the province, including in Jordan, Nueva Valencia, and Buenavista — the last one’s groundbreaking was personally witnessed by Go later that day.

Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.

Earlier that day, Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, attended a volleyball tournament as part of the Manggahan Festival of the province. The senator emphasized the importance of sports in promoting a healthy lifestyle, fostering discipline, and honing teamwork. He encouraged the aspiring athletes to pursue their dreams and assured them of his unwavering support.

“Ngayon as Chairman po ng Committee on Sports, gusto ko po ipagpatuloy na labanan ang ilegal na droga sa pamamaraan po na engganyuhin ang mga kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Ilayo natin ang kabataan sa ilegal na droga,” urged Go.

Go was joined by Governor Joaquin Carlos “JC” Rahman Nava, Vice Governor John Edward Gando, Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Congressman Jojo Ang, and Guimaras Lone District Congresswoman Lucille Nava, among others, during his visit.

Later that day, Go also visited Buenavista town in Guimaras where he led the groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center, spearheaded a relief operation for indigents, and visited local infrastructure initiatives he earlier supported such as the Buenavista Wharf and a seawall in the town.