This is “good news to all our patients and fellow Leyteños”, said Chief of Leyte Provincial Hospital, Dr. Ofelia Absin, referring to the launching of the Malasakit Centers at the Leyte Provincial Hospital and Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital in Palo, Leyte recently.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go led the ceremonial rites, assisted by the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, DSWD Undersecretary Aimee Torrefranca-Neri, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, and An Waray Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where indigent patients can access financial assistance for their medical needs from government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, PhilHealth and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The Office of the President has allocated Php 2 million for the initial operational fund for each of these Malasakit Centers while Senator Bong Go has alloted Php 10 million additional fund.
Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Center Act of 2019 was authored by Senator Bong Go and was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 2, 2019.
