Entrance to a Malasakit Center (File photo from an RTVM video)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has warned the public against fake social media pages that publish items on loan assistance while using the name of Malasakit Centers.
In a statement on Tuesday, DOH said the pages deceitfully used the name and logo of the Malasakit Program Office to make it appear that the counterfeit platforms were the online versions of the assistance centers.
DOH clarified if there are physical outlets connected to the social media pages that actually exist, these units are not affiliated with the Malasakit Program Office.
“The [DOH] cautions the public against a Facebook page maliciously using the Malasakit Program Office’s false loan centers,” the department said.
“The said page is FAKE, and is not in any way or form affiliated with the Malasakit Center,” DOH cautioned the people.
Genuine Malasakit Centers are one-stop shops located inside or near government hospitals.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Malasakit Centers are meant to provide “medical and financial assistance to the indigent and financially incapacitated patients.”
The facilities have been set up so that patients need not leave the premises of government hospitals to line up elsewhere to seek help from the government.
Government agencies with representatives in Malasakit Centers include DOH, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
DOH said it may sue the people behind the fraudulent social media pages.
“DOH states that criminal charges may be pressed if related post/s shall persist,” it added.