Senator Christopher Bong Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, has been at the forefront of strengthening the country’s healthcare system, ensuring that accessible medical services reach Filipinos, particularly the most vulnerable.
This commitment is evident in the National Capital Region (NCR), where his flagship health initiatives—Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers, and Regional Specialty Centers—are transforming the accessibility and quality of public healthcare.
At the heart of Go’s advocacy is the Malasakit Centers program, a one-stop shop designed to streamline medical and financial assistance for indigent patients. These centers are fully institutionalized through Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored.
Across Metro Manila, 32 Malasakit Centers have been strategically established, making sure that those who struggle to afford medical services are given the help they need.
Manila City alone hosts five Malasakit Centers, situated in some of the country’s most critical public hospitals: the Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and Tondo Medical Center.
In Quezon City, a major medical hub, Malasakit Centers are available at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Novaliches District Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Orthopedic Center, National Children’s Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and the PNP General Hospital.
Beyond the major hospitals of Manila and Quezon City, several cities in Metro Manila have also embraced the program.
In Pasig City, there is a Malasakit Center at Rizal Medical Center, while in Parañaque City, the Ospital ng Parañaque serves those in need. Navotas City has one at Navotas City Hospital, ensuring that even smaller localities have access to assistance. Malabon City, on the other hand, has two—one at Ospital ng Malabon and another at San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital.
Other hospitals in the region that houses Malasakit Centers include Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital and Valenzuela Medical Center in Valenzuela City, Pasay City General Hospital in Pasay City, San Juan Medical Center in San Juan City, Taguig-Pateros District Hospital in Taguig City, National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina City, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City, and Ospital ng Muntinlupa in Muntinlupa City.
These centers have provided financial assistance to millions of Filipinos, ensuring that no one is turned away from essential medical services due to lack of funds. Nationally, over 167 Malasakit Centers have been established, benefiting more than 17 million Filipinos.
Beyond the Malasakit Centers, Go has also championed the establishment of Super Health Centers to improve access to primary healthcare. Recognizing the need to decongest major hospitals, these centers provide consultation, early disease detection, and outpatient services.
“Puwede po kayong magpakonsulta d’yan. Lahat po ng Pilipino ay miyembro ng PhilHealth, kaya puwede po kayong magparehistro sa Konsulta Program ng PhilHealth d’yan sa Super Health Center… Ilapit natin ang serbisyong medikal sa lahat,” he added.
Through the efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, DOH Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, and local government units, funding has been secured to establish more than 700 Super Health centers nationwide. In NCR, more than 30 Super Health Centers were funded to make healthcare more accessible even at the barangay level.
Go’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system goes further with the passage of RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which ensures that advanced medical services are no longer confined to a handful of institutions in Metro Manila. Go principally sponsored and is one of the authors of the law. Under this law, specialty centers are being developed in various regional hospitals, ensuring that expertise in specific medical fields is more evenly distributed.
Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Valenzuela Medical Center, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Rizal Medical Center, and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium have all been designated as Regional Specialty Centers in NCR.
Public health services have also seen significant improvements, ensuring that medical care is more accessible to residents. Muntinlupa City has welcomed the construction of a stand-alone dialysis clinic within the Bureau of Corrections, making life-saving treatment more accessible to those in need.
With Go’s leadership and strong collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units, these programs are not just promises—they are tangible solutions that ensure no Filipino is left behind in the pursuit of quality healthcare.
“Hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung pagkakataong ibinigay n’yo po sa akin. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino. At iyan po ang pwede kong i-alay sa inyo, ang aking bisyo sa pagseserbisyo,” said Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.
