Go defends Malasakit Center bill in Senate

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go answers questions about his proposed Malasakit Center Act, which he sponsored last Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019. (Photo from his office)

MANILA, Philippines — The Malasakit Center Program won’t discriminate against anyone. It’s open to serve all Filipinos.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go stressed this on during the interpellation period for Senate Bill No. 199 — the proposed Malasakit Center Act of 2019 — which he sponsored on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Go answered questions asked by Senators Frank Drilon and Risa Hontiveros during the interpellations.

“Hindi po ba magbabago ang proseso sa bill na ito ang pagbibigay ng tulong ng aking opisina sa mga nangangailangan?” Drilon asked.

[Won’t this bill change the process of my office in giving help to those in need?]

“Hindi po,” Go answered. “Walang po itong pipiliin. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka. Kahit ang mga humihingi ng tulong sa opisina ni Senator Drilon, Hontiveros, Pangilinan. Pwede po kahit sino. Wala po itong pinipili.”

[No, sir. This won’t be selective. As long as you’re a Filipino, you’re qualified. Even if those asking for help from the office of Senators Drilon, Hontiveros, Pangilinan. Anyone can be ask for help. This won’t be selective.]

Why go elsewhere?

Asked whether patients could still directly go to the offices of concerned agencies despite the existence of Malasakit Centers, Go said they could.

The senator also pointed out, however, that it might be more convenient for patients to seek assistance at Malasakit Centers since these would be already inside hospitals.

“Hindi na nila kailangan mamasahe. Bakit pa sila pupunta diyan sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) kung nandiyan na ang opisina?” Go said.

[There’s no need to spend on transportation. Why would they have to go to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, when it’s the office is already there?]

As Go pointed out during the interpellations, there are currently 18 hospitals run by the Department of Health (DOH) and 24 hospitals run by local governments that all have Malasakit Centers.

Drilon then asked if the 24 locally-run hospitals — those run by municipal, city, or provincial governments — would be covered by the provisions of the bill.

Go said the 72 hospitals run by the DOH would be prioritized. But criteria would be set for LGUs that would want to set up their own Malasakit Centers to ensure that these would be consistent, sustainable and fully operational.

“If they will not follow the standards, they cannot use the name Malasakit Center,” Go said.

Clarifications

Responding to Drilon’s request, Go also detailed the process of availing services at the centers, saying that he was also planning to establish a similar office in the Public Assistance Center of the Senate.

“Halimbawa, nandyan na ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno. Same process, walang pipiliin. Ang target po natin dito, zero balance,” said Go.

[For example, the four agencies of government are already there. Same process, no selectivity, Our target here is zero balance.]

Drilon also wanted clarifications of Section 5 of the proposed measure that seeks to establish a Malasakit Center Program office in the DOH by “augmenting, reclassifying and strengthening the Public Assistance Unit of the DOH.”

According to Go, the said unit of the DOH needs to be converted as it has limited personnel.

“Currently, the Public Assistance Unit of the DOH only has three plantilla positions. It is just apt to convert the unit of the office,” he said.

He also said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has expressed support for the creation of the office in the DOH.

“It will also oversee the operations of the Malasakit Centers. This will require additional personnel,” Go said. “I have talked to the DBM and they have submitted a position paper indicating support for the creation of the office. We will just hire new social workers to provide service.”

Asked whether the PCSO would need to provide funds to the Malasakit Centers, Go said that the centers would not get money from the agency.

“The discretion of giving assistance to the patients would not have to pass through the Malasakit Center. It would be direct from the representative of the PCSO, depending on the availability of funds of the PCSO,” he said.

“Ito po ‘yung charity fund. Sila ang magde-determine sa assistance na ibibigay nila sa pasyente. Walang dadaan sa Malasakit Center or Malasakit Center Program kahit piso. They will be the one to determine their assistance to the patients,” he added.

[This is the charity fund. They will determine the assistance to be given patients. No funds will pass through the the Malasakit Center or the Malasakit Center Program — not even a single peso. They will be the one to determine their assistance to the patients.]

Go also said that he was seeking to institutionalize Malasakit Centers because some offices still lacked personnel.

“There are 18 Malasakit Centers in DOH-run hospitals. Per DOH, there are three personnel in each center. But some Malasakit Centers, including LGU-run are bungi-bungi. Kulang kulang ang personnel. That’s why we are pushing for the institutionalization of Malasakit Center,” he said.

Funding concerns

Meanwhile, Hontiveros said during the interpellations that she “fully supports interventions that seek to reduce the out-of-pocket health expenditure of all Filipinos.” But she wanted to clarify some things regarding the proposed measure, particularly if the PCSO still had sufficient funds to provide assistance.

“Under the UHC [Universal Health Care Law], 40% of the charity fund of the PCSO will go to PhilHealth. There would still be 8% of the charity fund available for the PCSO and its charity programs,” said Go.

“Hindi po kukunin ang contribution ng PCSO to the UHC,” he clarified.

[The PCSO contribution to the UHC would not be taken.]

Hontiveros asked whether the measure would, in any way, amend or supersede Section 37 of the UHC Law and reallocate what had already been appropriated in the said measure to fund Malasakit Centers.

“No, walang gagalawin na pondo o kontribusyon ang Malasakit Center. The bill will not amend the UHC law. It will complement the law,” Go assured.

[No, the Malasakit Center will nto touch any funds or contributions. The bill will not amend the UHC law. It will complement the law.]

/atm