166th Malasakit Center in Ph opens in Kalinga

Tabuk City, Kalinga – It is now more convenient for IKalingas to access financial aid for health care services with the opening of the 166th Malasakit Center in the country at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Bulanao, Tabuk City.

The launching of the one-stop-shop facility, dedicated for indigent patients availing of medical and financial assistance, transpired Tuesday, July 16.

The facility is the seventh of its kind in the Cordillera Region.

Said launching was led by DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire.

With the facility, indigent iKalingas no longer need to visit various government offices offering medical and financial assistance as they can now procced directly to the center to avail of the aid.

Services of the center include PhilHealth support, medical assistance from the Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office, financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and counselling, orientation and psychological first aid from the Department of Health and KPH’s medical social workers.

In order to enjoy these services, patients or the patient’s relative only need to comply with the needed documentary requirements.

Mr. Jose Luis De Vera, Administrative Officer III of the Malasakit Program, in a speech, explained that the center was made possible with the enactment of the Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Center Act of 2019.

“Ito ay naglalayong matulungan ang mga kwalipikadong pasyente sa mga pampublikong hospital sa pamamagitan ng Malasakit Center. Ang Malasakit Center ay isang one-stop shop sa mga DOH Hospitals at punong LGU hospitals na nagbibigay ng tulong medical at pinansyal sa mga kwalipikadong pasyente ng hospital,” he stated.

Along with Vergeire and De Vera, other notable officials who were present in the event were Governor James Edduba, Vice Governor Jocel Baac, DOH-CAR Regional Director Ferdinand Benbenen, DSWD-CAR Regional Director Maria Aplaten, and Philhealth-CAR Regional Vice President Dominga Gadgad.

The event was also attended by PCSO-Kalinga officer-in-charge Romel B. Ramos, Girlie E. Veloso who represented Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and Placido Alsiyang, who represented Kalinga’s lone representative, Allen Jesse Mangaoang.