Zero funds for Malasakit Centers? Bong Go says it’s ‘fake news’

Senator Bong Go on Wednesday denied allegations that the Malasakit Centers in certain hospitals nationwide have no more funds.

Senator Bong Go refutes claims that Malasakit Centers have zero funds already: “It’s not true, it’s fake news.” @gmanews pic.twitter.com/kZBWNIPubS

— Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) February 19, 2025

“It’s not true na walang [pondo], na zero ang pondo ng Malasakit Center dahil nandyan ang four agencies na may pondo at karapatan ng Pilipino. Pera ng Pilipino ‘yan, dapat ibalik sa Pilipino ang pera ng Pilipino,” the senator said in an ambush interview in Quezon City. 

(It's not true that the Malasakit Center has zero budget because there are four agencies that have funding and that the Filipinos have rights to use it. That is the money of the Filipinos and it should be returned to them.) 

Go, the main proponent of the Malasakit Centers program, was answering the allegation of former election commissioner Rowena Guanzon that indigent patients undergoing dialysis should seek help from local government units as the Malasakit Centers now have “zero funds.”

Nasaan ang budget ng Malasakit centers sa hospitals? Kawawa ang mga pobreng pasyente at PWD. pic.twitter.com/qXVXpw5Aug

— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) February 16, 2025

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop facility at hospitals where agencies receive and process requests for medical and financial assistance for indigent and financially incapacitated patients.

The program brings several government agencies together, including the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Inc. (PhilHealth), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). 

Go, who is currently running for re-election in the 2025 National Elections, emphasized that the four agencies have their respective budgets, thus there's no reason for the funding for the Malasakit Centers to get depleted.

“It’s not true, it’s fake news. You may check with the Department of Health, it was posted in their Facebook page and including the page of Secretary Ted Herbosa na walang dapat matanggihan na pasyente sa [no patient should be turned away at] Malasakit Center,” he added. 

In December 2024, the DOH said that the funding and support for indigent and financially incapacitated patients would continue. The advisory was reposted by DOH on Saturday, February 15.   

“Alinsunod sa Republic Act No. 11463 o ang Malasakit Centers Act, maaaring dumulog ang mga nangangailangan ng medical assistance sa mga registered social worker o medical social services ng ospital na meron nito,” the DOH said. 

(In accordance with Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act, those who need medical assistance may seek help from registered social workers or medical social services of the hospitals that provide it.) 

Aside from Malasakit Centers, the agency said that people in need may also ask hospitals if they are covered by the DOH’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), as well as other financial assistance from DSWD and PCSO.

GMA News Online has reached out to Guanzon for comment. — RF, GMA Integrated News

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