House Majority Leader Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Friday hailed the launching of Malasakit Centers at the Leyte Provincial Hospital and Schistosomiasis Research Hospital in Palo, Leyte.
The Romualdez couple credited the opening of the Malasakit Center to the hard work and dedication of the Duterte administration and Congress leaders to improve the quality of the healthcare system in the countryside.
“As principal authors of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Center Act, we congratulate President Duterte and Sen. Bong Go on the continued launching of Malasakit Centers, this time in Palo, Leyte. Definitely this ‘malasakit’ (compassionate) initiative is a huge boost to the health needs of our constituents. The growth of Malasakit Centers is impressive,” the Romualdez couple said.
Go graced the opening of two Malasakit Centers Friday afternoon.
“It rolls out the red carpet for the establishment of a one-stop shop across the country where indigent patients will have wider access to quality medical and primary health care services that would complement the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) program,” the Romualdezes said.
According to the Majority Leader, the law will “reduce, if not eliminate, out-of-pocket expenditures of poor patients and ensure that its benefits reach the grassroots.”
Rep. Yedda, for her part, said patients at the hospitals with Malasakit Center will enjoy easy and free access to financial assistance.
“The Malasakit Center exemplified government’s efforts in making the medical services, especially to the poorest of the poor responsive to their needs,” the Romualdez couple added.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers also thanked Go for providing assistance to the communities affected by Typhoon Bising in Northern Samar.
“We are grateful to you Sen. Go for all you have done to our constituents in Region 8 during this hardest time. We are overwhelmed by your support that gave comfort and hope amidst the wrath of devastation of the recent typhoon,” they said.
On Tuesday, Go’s team extended assistance to 1,000 residents of Catubig, Northern Samar who were hit by Typhoon Bising last week.
Go’s outreach team distributed meals, food packs, masks, face shields, and vitamins to the beneficiaries during the activity.
The senator’s staff also gave bicycles to selected recipients for their commute to work amid limited transportation options.
Other beneficiaries were given pairs of shoes while some received computer tablets for their children’s use in classes as part of their blended learning being implemented by schools.
Go also extended assistance to those needing medical attention and told beneficiaries that they can conveniently avail of government help for their medical bills at the nearest Malasakit Center located in the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital in Catarman.