Lagman fires back at Go over Malasakit Centers issue

MANILA, Philippines – Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman issued a professional clap-back at neophyte Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go’s scathing remarks after he questioned the funding of Malasakit Centers, a pet project of President Duterte’s former top aide.

Lagman, in a statement Wednesday, reiterated his earlier statement that Malasakit Centers are not one-stop shops for post-confinement financial assistance but mere referral outlets.

He earlier called the program a “partisan tool rather than a medical outlet.”

READ: Lagman to PCSO: Explain funding to Malasakit Centers

“I always talk sense and my statements are well studied and anchored on facts,” the veteran lawmaker said, slamming Go’s “anti-poor” tirade against him.

“I have always been a pro-poor legislator long before the advent of the Malasakit Centers and my legislative performance and accomplishments speak of my advocacies for the disadvantaged and marginalized,” the opposition congressman added.

Lagman also said he had received complaints from Albayanos that in some instances,  representatives of the participating agencies like the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Health are not present in Malasakit Centers supposedly because of lack of personnel.

“Contrary to the repeated pronouncements of Go that the Malasakit Centers are “one-stop shops” for post-confinement financial assistance,” Lagman said, “they are mere outlets for referral to the main local offices of the participating agencies where the beneficiaries have to just the same queue in long lines because the representatives in the centers do not have the authority nor discretion to make assessments either for partial or full payment of hospital bill balances.”

Go, in a privilege speech in Senate Tuesday, chided Lagman’s appearance and accused him of politicizing the program instead of clarifying the basis of the funding for the project.

“Klaruhin ko lang po, hindi po tinatanggap ng PCSO ang mga request to fund aesthetic enhancements or any cosmetic purpose… Wala rin pong legal basis ang pagtulong sa pag-repair ng inyong mukha,” Go said.

“Prangkahin ko na rin po kayo, your image is beyond repair, hindi po ikakaayos ng pagmumukha ninyo ang pag-kontra ninyo sa interes ng mga Filipino.”

READ: Go hits Lagman for questioning Malasakit Centers: ‘Your image is beyond repair’

During the budget defense of PCSO at the House Friday, PCSO General Manager Royina Garma explained that they are not funding the centers but the patients who ask for medical assistance.

She said the centers, established to streamline government services, are part of PCSO’s Individual Medical Assistance Program, which received P8.68 billion from their charity fund in 2018. /gsg