After Robredo’s remark, Go hopes next president will support Malasakit Centers

 

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Thursday expressed hope that the next administration will continue to support the operations of Malasakit Centers.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s longtime aide made the remark after Vice President Robredo said, if elected president, she will continue and expand the Malasakit Center program, which aims to provide medical and financial assistance through a one-stop shop.

The lawmaker emphasized that these one-stop shops were already institutionalized through Republic Act 11463, which was passed in 2019.

“Kaya kahit sinuman ang susunod na pangulo, sana ay maipagpatuloy at mabigyan ng kaukulang suporta ang mga programang katulad ng Malasakit Centers na nakakatulong sa mga mahihirap lalo na ‘yung mga walang matatakbuhan,” he said.

(That's why whoever the next president is, we hope that he or she will continue and give enough support to programs like the Malasakit Centers, which really help the poor.)

“Anuman ang kulay natin sa pulitika, sikapin nating maipalapit sa tao ang serbisyo mula sa gobyerno lalo na pagdating sa kalusugan. Napakaimportante nito dahil nasa gitna pa tayo ng pandemya,” he added.

(Regardless of our political colors, let us make sure that we bring government services to the people, especially when it comes to health. This is very important because we are still in the middle of the pandemic.)

Further, Go said he hopes that the Malasakit Centers will be expanded to other hospitals.

So far, Go said there are 149 Malasakit Centers across the country.

In a panel interview on Wednesday organized by dzRH, Robredo said the Malasakit Center program was a “very good concept.”

This, she said, should be expanded to cover patients in the wards of private hospitals and outpatients.

Go said the vice president’s remarks only proved that Malasakit Centers have reached many Filipinos who are in need and that this is an "acknowledgment" of the good programs of the Duterte administration. 

Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, one of Duterte's allies, also welcomed Robredo's statement.

"The proposal of VP Leni to reform and enhance the features of the program to include patients in charity wards of private hospitals and out patients will definitely widen the coverage of the program," Evardone said in a statement.

"We need this kind of pro-poor programs in the country, especially in the provinces... The proposal of VP Leni to include those in the charity wards of private hospitals and put its regular budget in the annual General Appropriations Act would further widen the coverage and ensure continuity and sustainability of the program," he added. —VBL/NB, GMA News

This article After Robredo’s remark, Go hopes next president will support Malasakit Centers was originally published in GMA News Online.