UHC, Malasakit Center go together

Passage of the landmark Universal Health Care bill will not, in anyway, affect the Malasakit Centers, the one-stop shop program of the Duterte administration aimed at easing the process for patients availing themselves of quick medical and financial assistance from the government.

Former Special Assistant to the President and aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go pointed out that on the contrary, it will work together with the Universal Healthcare Bill (UHC) in dealing with the health care needs of Filipinos.

In a radio interview, the former SAP explained the UHC is a milestone law that, upon passage, will authorize the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to handle larger amounts of funding from the government that have been set aside for health-related concerns of Filipinos.

“Yung Malasakit Center naman will not be affected by the passage of the UHC law. Magiging processing center pa rin (ito); one-stop shop will still be the Malasakit Center. Bale, kung sakali pong, after ng tulong ng UHC ay may balanse pa po, doon na po papasok ang pondo ng Office of the President,” Go explained.

Go, who was involved in putting up Malasakit Centers when he was serving as the top aide of President Duterte, said he wants to push a law that would put more Malasakit Centers in provincial and urban parts of the nation to help patients in need of medical aid and support from the government.

Aside from the Malasakit Center, Go has a legislative agenda which has programs for agriculture, housing, improved health service delivery, education, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, anti-drug and crime drive, anti-corruption drive, barangay welfare, creation of a Department of OFW, as well as senior citizen concerns.

Meanwhile, Go appealed to the congregation of the Bible Baptist Church (BBC) of Pasay, Inc. to help not only in saving their fellowmen from sin but also from the threat of illegal drugs, crime and corruption.

“Alam nyo galit si Pangulong Duterte sa droga. Andami na pong naging biktima nito. Buti na lang po nung naging Pangulo siya marami na pong nagbagong-buhay. So, tulungan po natin si Pangulong Duterte,” Go said in his message at the BBC Pasay World Missions Conference.

Go noted that leaders of the BBC were among the first groups who threw their support behind the candidacy of Duterte in the 2016 presidential elections.