MAASIN CITY – Southern Leyte Governor Christopherson Yap said that he had asked President Rodrigo Duterte that a ‘Malasakit Center’ be put up in his province.
A Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop to provide assistance to poor patients, in particular, from various government agencies like the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Health.
The first Malasakit Center in the region was established at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center with Special Assistant to the President Sec. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go and presidential spouse Honeylet Avanceña leading the inauguration on May 22.
“For people who have nothing, the Malasakit Center can really help them a lot if they seek for medical assistance,” Gov. Yap.
“Before we can position our self as economically viable to any market, we have also to take care of our human resources,” he added.
Gov. Yap said that he made his request during his audience with Pres. Duterte during his visit to the province on July 2, coinciding with the 58th founding anniversary of the province.
According to Yap, the President would discuss the matter with Health Sec. Francisco Duque III and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Michael Lloyd Dino.
The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas is the lead agency behind the Malasakit Center and funded by the socio-civic funds of the Office of the President.
Gov. Yap said that the location of the Malasakit Center in Tacloban is very far from their province which is about four hours travel from the capital city of Maasin and more than five hours travel from San Ricardo, the farthest town.
If their request is granted, the Malasakit Center will be established at the Southern Leyte Provincial Hospital located in Maasin City.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
