Kuya Bong seeks solid healthcare system

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has stressed his dedication to enhancing the country's healthcare system during a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon last Friday.

The lawmaker pledged to tirelessly work for the Filipino people, underscoring his experience and commitment in uplifting the lives of the poor and highlighted the importance of Malasakit Centers, an initiative he championed as the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

Through Go's continuing advocacy of helping the poor avail of needed medical assistance, a total of 159 Malasakit centers nationwide serve as one-stop shops combining programs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to aid impoverished patients.

The DoH reported that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 10 million Filipinos so far.

During his visit, Go also addressed the healthcare workers and frontliners, thanking them for their sacrifices, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. He stressed the importance of the Malasakit program and urged the staff to prioritize helping the needy.

The senator underscored his role in the passage of RA 11959, known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act which he principal sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate.

The legislation, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 24 August, mandates the creation of specialized centers within current DoH regional hospitals and aims to decentralize specialized medical services, making them more accessible to people across the regions and reducing the necessity for travel to Manila for such services.

As part of this initiative, Go also undertook an inspection of the Sorsogon Cancer Treatment Center during his visit which was recently constructed with his support. He also inspected the newly renovated Sorsogon Provincial Hospital which he helped fund as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance.