Senator Christopher “Bong” Go personally witnessed the turnover of additional funding from the national government for equipment support and financial assistance provided through the Socio-Civic Projects Fund of the Office of the President to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City on Sunday, July 18.

The turnover was headed by Rizalina Justol, Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration, together with OIC Medical Center Chief Dr. Ricardo Audan in a ceremony held at the Malasakit Center Building inside the SPMC compound.

“We should invest more sa healthcare. We should give more support sa ating social services, lalong-lalo na maraming mga kababayan natin ang naghihirap ngayon. Marami ang nawalan ng trabaho at umaasa sa gobyerno. Dapat maayos ang social services, ‘yung hindi pinapahirapan ang mga kababayan natin. Dapat ibalik natin sa kanila ‘yung pera nila sa mabilis na paraan,” Go emphasized.

The first assistance, which amounts to a total of P19.35 million, shall be used for the installation of a new source of power supply for the operation of the hospital’s positron emission tomography (PET) and nuclear medicine and cyclotron facilities. The facilities are used to diagnose a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers and heart diseases.

The second assistance, worth 30 million pesos, shall serve as financial aid for patients who are undergoing treatment at the SPMC but do not have the means to pay for their medical expenses.

“Full support ang ating mahal na Pangulo (Rodrigo Duterte) noon pa man sa SPMC. Talagang malapit sa kanya ang ospital dahil hindi lang residente ng Davao City ang natutulungan nito. Iyung mga taga-kapitbayan as far as Surigao at General Santos City ang pumupunta dito dahil kompleto ang mga kagamitan nito,” Go said in an interview after the ceremony.

“Importante ang suporta na ibinigay ng Pangulo, lalong-lalo na nasa panahon tayo ng pandemya. Ito ang pinaka-sentro na hospital at nandito ang heart at cancer centers at iba pang espesyalista. Bilang chair of the Senate Committee on Health, matagal na rin akong full support dito sa SPMC,” he continued.

The ceremony was also attended by Davao City 2nd District Councilor Che-Che Justol, Malasakit Center Over-all Coordinator and Building Administrator Nenen Mitaran, SPMC Chief Finance Officer Barbara Cesar, Chief Nurse Vilma Comoda, OIC Chief of Clinics Dr. Ma. Concha, Chief Allied Officer Lani Paler, and Chief Administrative Officer Atty. Oscar Mata.

Last January 29, Go had also attended the blessing of a new four-storey building to house the Malasakit Center and other offices that provide health support services at the SPMC.

Go assured that the Malasakit Center at the said hospital remains fully operational and continues to assist poor and indigent patients. It also offers convenient access to local programs like Botika ng Bayan and Lingap para sa Mahirap.

He encouraged patients to seek the center’s services which aim to reduce hospital bills to the lowest possible amount by covering surgeries, laboratories and other patient services and expenses.

“Nandidito rin ang Malasakit Center. Hindi na kailangan pa humingi ng tulong sa iba’t ibang opisina ang mga kababayan natin. Noon, pupunta pa ‘yan sa kanto sa PCSO, lilipat sa PhilHealth sa Matina at DSWD sa Ramon Magsaysay. Ngayon, dito na sa isang kwarto sa building ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong sa kanila,” said Go.

Go served as the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. It aims to improve access to medical assistance from the government by bringing together the desk representatives of the DOH, DSWD, PhilHealth and PCSO.

Under the law, all DOH-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital are mandated to open their own Malasakit Centers. Other public hospitals, including those run by local government units, may also establish their own provided they meet a standard set of criteria and can guarantee the sustainability of its operations.

There are currently 129 Malasakit Centers throughout the country, the latest of which was launched in a ceremony Go also personally witnessed at the Tondo Medical Center in Manila City on Friday, July 16.