Bong Go calls for public vigilance

SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go, the proponent of the Malasakit Centers Program, on Thursday, January 11, called for public vigilance against fraudulent social media pages misusing the Malasakit Centers’ logo to promote bogus loan assistance.

The Department of Health (DoH) recently cautioned the public against certain Facebook pages illicitly leveraging the name and logo of the Malasakit Centers Program office, suggesting they were online outlets for the centers.

However, these platforms are not associated with the legitimate Malasakit Centers, known for their role as one-stop shops within government hospitals, delivering medical and financial assistance to those in need.

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, emphasized their role in returning public funds to Filipinos through dependable medical services, primarily benefiting the underprivileged.

“Our goal with Malasakit Centers has always been clear: to ensure that every Filipino, regardless of their financial status, can access medical assistance from the government for their health care needs,” said Go.

“Assistance from the Malasakit Centers is for free. That is from the people’s money plowed back to them through faster, better, smoother and more reliable delivery of medical assistance,” he added in Filipino.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463, or the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019,” which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.

Currently, 159 Malasakit Centers are operational nationwide, poised to assist with patients’ medical expenses. The DoH reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to more than 10 million Filipinos.

Go also warned against the deceitful use of the Malasakit Center’s name, underscoring that these counterfeit platforms undermine the trust and efficiency established by the legitimate centers.

He supported DoH’s stance on legal action against the individuals responsible for these fraudulent activities.

“We will not tolerate any actions that exploit the good intentions of Malasakit Centers. The legal measures being considered are necessary to protect our citizens and ensure the continued integrity of these centers,” Go added.

The DoH is considering pressing criminal charges against the creators of the fraudulent social media pages to safeguard the public interest and maintain the integrity of the Malasakit Centers Program.