The Malasakit Center which Senator Christopher “Bong” Go initiated has been a source of hope for many Filipino families grappling with the costs of healthcare.

The story of Regiene Cayabyab, a mother from Maypajo, Caloocan City, is a testament to the life-changing support these centers provide.

 Cayabyab’s two-year-old son, Brent Raven, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a form of eye cancer. Recounting her harrowing journey, Regiene shared how her son’s frequent falls and the blinding of his left eye led to a devastating diagnosis at Tondo Hospital.

“Ang sabi po sa akin cancer daw po agad. Eh, parang na-ano po ako, sabi ko, cancer po, eh, wala naman pong sintomas, parang nadudulas lang po s’ya,” she said.

(They told me it was cancer so I was shocked because he showed no symptoms)

The news that her son needed his eye removed was both shocking and heart-wrenching.

“Sabi ko, wala naman po akong... sabi nila kailangan pong tanggalin kasi madadamay ‘yung kabila. Kaya po nagpunta kami agad sa Philippine Children’s Hospital dahil wala po ‘yung kailangan naming pasilidad sa Tondo. Pagdating po doon, in-admit agad siya para matanggal yung apektadong mata niya,” she recounted.

(We went to the Philippine Children’s Hospital because they have the facilities for the operation).

The Malasakit Center at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City stepped in as a crucial support system for the Cayabyab family.

These centers, located in various hospitals across the country, aim to reduce a patient’s financial burden by pooling together resources from the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.

As of now, 159 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The DoH reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to around 10 million Filipinos.

Without assistance from the Malasakit Center, Regiene fears the worst for her son. The centers not only provide financial aid but also emotional support to families like hers.

In a heartfelt message, Regiene thanked Go for his initiative. “Hello po Senator Bong Go. Maraming, maraming salamat po kasi nabibigyan nyo ng tulong yung mga anak namin na katulad ng anak ko na may cancer po,” she said.

Meanwhile, Go emphasized the importance of strengthening disaster resilience and rebuilding efforts, in line with his legislative efforts to enhance the country’s response to natural disasters.

In a message during his Malasakit Team’s relief activity for fire and flood victims at the Human Resource Development Function Hall inside the South Cotabato municipal hall  last 10 January, Go renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill 188, which proposes the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience, an agency focused on collaborative strategy for handling disasters.