Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Senator Bong Go, Gov. Albert Garcia and others in the opening of the 112th Malasakit center in Mariveles, Bataan. Photo by Ernie Esconde
MARIVELES, Bataan — The 112th Malasakit center in the country opened Tuesday at the Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital here.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, principal author of the bill creating Malasakit centers, personally handed to hospital officials P5 million in check coming from the Office of the President.
“Replenishable itong P5 million monthly. Noong February 2 ay nag-download ako ng P5M at magdadagdag pa ako ng P5M ngayong buwang ito kaya wala ng dahilan para tanggihan ang pasyente,” he said.
Go said he pushed for the creation of Malasakit centers through a bill he authored in the Senate and supported in Congress by Bataan 2nd District Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III. It became a law after President Duterte signed it.
He said that out of the 112 Malasakit centers, 59 are in Luzon. The senator said the law mandates that all hospitals under the Department of Health to have Malasakit centers.
“Ang Malasakit center ay one-stop-shop dahil ang apat na ahensiya ng gubyerno – PhilHealth, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Social Welfare and Development, at Department of Health – ay nasa loob ng ospital. Wala nang babayaran ang pasyente, zero balance para sa mga indigent patients,” Go said.
The senator distributed packed lunch, grocery packs, face masks and face shields to 35 patients and 336 medical frontliners of the former Mariveles mental hospital.
Go also had 10 bicycles and some rubber shoes raffled among the health workers.
Gov. Albert Garcia said the Malasakit center in Mariveles is the second in Bataan after the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga City
“Ang Malasakit Center ay One-stop-shop para sa mga indigent patients na nangangailangan ng financial assistance para hindi na mahirapan sa pagpunta kung saan-saan upang kumuha ng requirements,” the governor said.
Joining the governor and Go in the Mariveles hospital were Congressman Garcia, Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia, Mariveles Mayor Jocelyn Castañeda, Chief Presidential Legal Adviser Sec. Salvador Panelo and DOH officials.
Panelo bats for Go
In a short message during the event, Panelo said either Go or Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio as the “best choice” to succeed President Duterte.
“Kung tayo’y mapalad, kung ito’y iginuhit ng tadhana, ang susunod na presidente ng bansa si Senador Bong Go,” he said.
Seeing the senator shaking his head, Panelo said “Talagang ayaw niya, sa totoo lang talagang ayaw niya. Pero matatapos na termino ni Presidente. Paano na kung siya’y mawawala na sa panguluhan? Sino magpapatuloy?”
The secretary said President Duterte has outstanding accomplishments like in the war against poverty, criminality, corruption, terrorism, drugs and now on the pandemic.
“Tumubo at namukadkad ang mga itinanim ni Presidente kaya ang nasa isipan ng mga taong-bayan ay si Mayor Sara at Senador Go ang susunod sa kanya,” Panelo said.
