During a Senate committee hearing on 12 February, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to expedite the provision of medical assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program in Malasakit Centers. The senator emphasized the urgency of approving the long-delayed Joint Administrative Order (JAO) that would allow DSWD to offer medical aid in these centers.

Go expressed concern over the prolonged delay, questioning why the JAO had remained unsigned for over a year, leaving indigent patients without the much-needed support. "Makatutulong ito, ‘pag na-aprubahan itong JAO, pwede nang tumulong ang DSWD sa medical assistance nila. Mas mabawasan ‘yung problema ng PhilHealth, mas mabawasan ‘yung problema ng DOH, mas mabawasan ‘yung problema ng PCSO," he said.

("This will be helpful. Once the JAO is approved, DSWD can assist with their medical needs. This will reduce the problems with PhilHealth, reduce the problems with DOH, and reduce the problems with PCSO.")

The senator stressed that allowing DSWD to extend its medical assistance under AICS would significantly ease the burden on other agencies such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Department of Health (DOH).

"Kung i-allow po ang DSWD to use your AICS for medical assistance, laking tulong po ‘yun sa mga kababayan natin. Mas maibsan, mababawasan ang kalbaryo nila kung matutulungan through the AICS program for medical assistance, once na-aprubahan n’yo itong JAO. Why is it taking so long? One year na po, ilan na kayang pasyente ang hindi naka-avail dahil sa delays nitong JAO?" Go further questioned.

("If DSWD is allowed to use your AICS for medical assistance, it would be a big help to our fellow citizens. It will alleviate their suffering and reduce their burdens if they are helped through the AICS program for medical assistance, once this JAO is approved. Why is it taking so long? It’s been one year, how many patients have not been able to avail of it due to the delays in this JAO?")

In response, DSWD Director Edwin Morata confirmed that the department had expressed its intent to participate in the JAO but deferred to the Department of Health for updates on the matter. Morata emphasized that despite the delay, DSWD had already taken steps to integrate medical assistance into its programs. Under Memorandum Circular 16 (MC-16), DSWD had initiated revisions to include Malasakit Centers as one of the sites for the AICS program.

Morata also reported that 165 out of 167 Malasakit Centers nationwide had already deployed DSWD social workers. Go pressed for confirmation that medical assistance was still being provided at these centers.

"So tuluy-tuloy naman inyong assistance ng medical assistance? (So your medical assistance is continuous, right?)" Go asked, to which Morata affirmed, "Yes po, Mr. Chair."

The senator reiterated the importance of reducing out-of-pocket expenses for Filipinos, stressing that the cooperation of government agencies could significantly alleviate the financial burden on patients.

"So mismo sa Malasakit Center, puwede na nilang ma-apply ‘yung medical assistance? Salamat. Laking tulong ‘yun. Bawas sa out-of-pocket expenditures ‘yun. ‘Pag nagtulong-tulong ang PCSO, nagtulong ang DSWD, nagtulong ang DOH, plus taasan ng PhilHealth ‘yung kanilang case rates, taasan nila ang kanilang packages, ‘yung counterpart n’yo, laking tulong ‘yun sa mga mahirap nating kababayan," he stated.

("So, at the Malasakit Center, they can now apply for medical assistance? Thank you. That would be a huge help. It will reduce out-of-pocket expenses. If PCSO, DSWD, and DOH work together, and if PhilHealth increases their case rates and packages, that would be a big help to our less fortunate fellow citizens.")

Go also called for the removal of restrictive cut-off policies for government assistance, advocating for healthcare services to be available 24/7. "Dapat wala kayong cut-off. Dapat 24/7 ang serbisyo natin. Buong taon ‘yan. 365 days tayong magserbisyo. Bukas ang inyong opisina. I’m sure meron kayong contingency dapat na gagawin," he urged.

("There should be no cut-off. Our service should be 24/7. It should be all year round. We should serve 365 days. Your office should be open. I'm sure you have a contingency plan that you should implement.")

Additionally, Go urged DSWD to speed up the process of finalizing memorandums of agreement (MOAs) with hospitals to ensure continuous medical assistance. "Sinasabi n’yo MOA o ‘yung inyong plano na ayusin na ‘yung agreement with the hospitals na wala nang magiging cut-off, tuluy-tuloy ‘yung inyong MOA with the hospitals. Sana ganun po. Kaya n’yo ‘yang gawin. Basta may paraan po. Kung gustuhin n’yo, may paraan. Kung ayaw n’yo may dahilan," he said.

("You’re saying the MOA or your plan to fix the agreement with the hospitals so that there will be no cut-off, and your MOA with the hospitals will continue. I hope that’s the case. You can do it. There is always a way. If you want it, there is a way. If you don’t want it, there’s always an excuse.")

He concluded by emphasizing the urgency of the matter, stating, "Ang buhay ng pasyente, hindi pwedeng bigyan ng cut-off!"

("A patient's life should not have a cut-off!")