On Saturday, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Team provided aid to the elderly in Barangay Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal.

In his address, Go underscored that being family-oriented is part of Filipino culture: “We Filipinos are known for being family-oriented. We do not abandon our elders. Let us remember that we would not be here without our grandparents. Caring for the elderly is deeply embedded in our culture.”

“This growing population of senior citizens underscores the need for a dedicated, specialized healthcare service that is appropriate for the urgent and specialized needs of aging individuals,” Go explained.

He emphasized the government’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding senior citizens’ contributions to society.

Go previously co-authored Republic Act (RA) 11916, an Act Increasing the Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens, which amended RA 7432, the first Senior Citizens Act.

Just last month, Go co-sponsored Senate Bill 1302, the proposed Philippine Geriatrics Center Act, which mandates a dedicated tertiary specialty hospital for older adults and the aging population under the direct supervision of the Department of Health (DoH).

Malasakit Centers in all hospitals

Relatedly, Go underscored the need to implement RA 11463 fully, the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all DoH-run hospitals, including geriatric centers.

Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of the said law.

Malasakit Centers serve as one-stop shops for medical assistance programs. To date, 167 Malasakit Centers are operating nationwide. Additionally, the DoH figures show that more than 20 million Filipinos are benefitting from this initiative.

During the activity held at the Silangan Covered Court, the Malasakit Team distributed grocery packs and cash assistance to 50 less fortunate elderly individuals.

“Please do not make things harder for patients, especially our senior citizens. Let us give them faster and easier processes so they are not burdened any further,” Go concluded.