Press Release
December 11, 2019

Senate opens renovated Public Assistance Center; Bong Go thanks colleagues for including Malasakit Counter

At the opening of the newly renovated Public Assistance Center (PAC) of the Senate on Monday, December 9, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go thanked his fellow Senators for adopting the Malasakit Center concept.

"I thank Senate President Vicente Sotto III and my colleagues for the collective decision and effort to improve the operations of the PAC," Go said in his speech at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

"The PAC has long been helping the Filipino people who need medical and financial assistance, but we must strive to make it bigger and better in terms of funding and quality of service, so I am quite delighted that the Senate decided to adopt the concept of the Malasakit Center through a one-stop Malasakit Counter here inside the PAC," he added.

As what Malasakit Centers offer, the Malasakit Counter in PAC processes applications for medical and financial assistance from four government agencies, namely, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

"Hindi na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan na bumiyahe at pumila nang ilang oras o araw sa iba't ibang ahensiya. Kapag kailangan nila ng tulong sa pagpapagamot o ng pamasahe pauwi, sa isang opisina o counter na lang sila dudulog," Go said.

The Senator also expressed his gratitude for the people who made the renovation possible. "Senator Cynthia Villar, salamat talaga for the generous sponsorship, and to Senate Secretary Myra Villarica, Director Lino Ong and the whole Senate Secretariat for facilitating the process," he said.

"Special thanks also to DPWH for their assistance in the renovation plans and to the Malasakit Center team represented now by DOH, DSWD, PCSO and PhilHealth for their commitment to help improve the services in the Senate PAC," he added.

Go also acknowledged Senator Franklin Drilon, who initiated the establishment of the PAC in 2001 when he was the Senate President, for "allowing the repair" and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian for suggesting the added services. "Siya (Gatchalian) po ang unang lumapit at sabi niya, puwede bang ayusin nating magkaroon tayo ng Malasakit help desk or counter dito sa PAC," Go shared.

Likewise, his fellow Senators acknowledged the efforts of Go. Villar thanked Go for coordinating with relevant government agencies so that there would be a Malasakit Counter inside the PAC.

Drilon recalled that the PAC was established eighteen years ago to "coordinate the efforts of assistance" of Senators, and he lauded the Malakit Center Law, authored by Go, for institutionalizing the one-stop shop process of providing assistance.

Sotto said that he is "simply overwhelmed to be leading a group of compassionate and generous people." He then praised Go and referred to the Malasakit Center and the Malasakit Counter as Go's "brainchild." He added in jest, "I'd like to call him starting today Senator Bong 'Malasakit' Go."

Go also emphasized the significance of one-stop shops for medical and financial assistance. "Napakalaking tulong po ng Malasakit Center sa ating mga kababayan, kaya nga kahit saang lugar ako magpunta, lagi akong tinatanong ng mga opisyal at residente kung kailan magbubukas ng Malasakit Center sa kanilang lungsod o probinsiya," he shared.

"Maganda nga naman po na tayo mismo dito sa Senado ay may ibinibigay tayo na parehong serbisyo," he added.

News Latest News Feed