Davao del Sur lays welcome mat for PH’s 89th Malasakit Center

DIGOS CITY—Officials of Davao del Sur province laid the welcome mat for the Malasakit Center established at the provincial hospital, the 89th in the country.

Gov. Douglas Cagas said the setting up of the center at the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital (DSPH) was very timely as many of the province’s residents were having difficulty paying for their medical needs because the COVID-19 pandemic had drained household incomes.

Cagas thanked Sen. Christopher Go for fulfilling the people’s plea for help in getting quality but cheap or free hospitalization.

Go led the inauguration of the Malasakit Center at the DSPH on Monday (Oct. 26), handing over a P3-million check as its seed money.

He promised to increase it by P10 million by the time the fund needed to be replenished.

The Malasakit Center brings into one roof services to help the poor settle their hospital bills.

Go said the center will “shorten the time to process the financial assistance, and you don’t have to travel to another location to seek help from another charitable institution of the government.”

He added that the opening of the Malasakit Center in Davao del Sur will help poor families with hospital patients get financial aid for medical bills without queueing in long long lines waiting for their turn to avail themselves of benefits from PhilHealth, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Go also told those with heart diseases and other severe illnesses, which could not be treated in local hospitals, to coordinate with his office for referral to competent facilities in Davao City or Metro Manila.

“Just don’t hesitate to get in touch with my office because I am here to serve the people in this country, especially those who needed medical attention,” said Go. “I am doing this to return back the favor for your overwhelming support to this administration,” added the senator who is President Rodrigo Duterte’s most trusted confidant.

While here, Go also visited the Digos City Business Center where he handed over cash to 170 vendors in the public market.

With him were Digos City Mayor Josef Cagas, Vice Mayor Johari Baña, city councilors and several mayors from different towns of Davao del Sur.

He also brought assorted vitamins, face masks, face shields and grocery items which were distributed to the vendors.

Bicycles were raffled off to the vendors and those on the frontline of the pandemic battle. Also distributed were 15 tablets for use of children in online learning.

TSB