Senator Bong Go Visits VSMMC Patients

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go brought joy to the patients of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center as he visited them personally last Friday, December 13 during the Go Malasakit Year End Special.

Senator Go visited children patients at the pediatric ward and Senior Citizens at the Out-Patient Department (OPD) and handed them gifts for Christmas.

“Ako nia ko diri para mag serbisyo ninyu (I am here to serve you),” Senator Go said.

After the recent passage of the Malasakit Law, which was sponsored by Senator Go himself, he revealed that there will be 73 Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals that will have their respective Malasakit Centers.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Photo by Aljun Cainghog)

“Ngayon po na naisabatas na siya, magkakaroon po tayo ng 73 DOH-runned hospitals na lalagyan ng Malasakit Centers at yung mga Local Government Units (LGUs) na gusto maglagay ng Malasakit Center meron pong criteria na dapat sundin (Now that the Malasakit Center is already a law, there will be Malasakit Centers in 73 DOH-runned hospitals and for LGUs who wish to put up Malasakit Centers in their respective areas, there will be a criteria),” Senator Go added.

Senator Go cleared that every Filipino is welcome to use Malasakit Centers.

“Basta kayo ay Pilipino qualified kayo. Pera niyo po ito binabalik lang namin sa inyo (As long as you are a Filipino citizen, you are qualified to use the services of Malasakit Center. This is your money),” Senator Go said.

Malasakit Center is a “one-stop shop” intended to lessen the hassle of people needing medical attention. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), PhilHealth, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) are inside the Malasakit Center. There is also an express lane intended to give priority for Persons with Disability (PWD), senior citizens, pregnant women and indigenous individuals.

On February 12, 2018, the Malasakit Center was launched at the VSMMC, making it the first hospital in the country to have its Malasakit Center.

The Malasakit Center was sponsored by Senator Go and was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 3, 2019. (MLC)