{{Short description|Philippine government one-stop-shops for medical assistance}} {{use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox organization | name = Malasakit Centers | full_name = | native_name = <!-- organization's name in its local language --> | native_name_lang = <!-- required ISO 639-1 code of the above native language --> | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Joni Villanueva General Hospital Malasakit Centers 1.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = <!-- see WP:ALT --> | caption = People lining up for services at a Malasakit Center at the Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bocaue | map = <!-- map image --> | map_size = <!-- defaults to 250px --> | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = <!-- 2nd map image, if required --> | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | nickname = | pronunciation = | pronounce_ref = | pronounce_comment = | named_after = | predecessor = | merged_into = <!-- any other organization(s) which it was merged into --> | successor = | formation = {{start date and age|2018|02}} | founder = Bong Go | founding_location = | dissolved = <!-- or |defunct = --><!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | merger = <!-- other organizations (if any) merged with, to constitute the new organization --> | type = <!-- e.g., Nonprofit, NGO, etc. --> | tax_id = <!-- or |vat_id = (for European organizations) --> | registration_id = <!-- for non-profits --> | status = <!-- legal status or description (company, charity, foundation, etc.) --> | purpose = <!-- or |focus = --><!-- humanitarian, activism, peacekeeping, etc. --> | professional_title = <!-- for professional associations --> | headquarters = | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline,title}} --> | origins = | region_served = Philippines | products = <!-- or |product = --> | services = Government medical assistance subsidy processing | methods = <!-- or |method = --> | fields = <!-- or |field = --> | membership = <!-- number of members --> | num_members_year = <!-- year to which membership numbers/data apply --> | language = <!-- or |languages = --><!-- any official language or languages used --> | owner = <!-- or |owners = --> | secretary_general = <!-- or |gen_sec for General Secretary --> | leader_title = Director | leader_name = Varies by branch | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = <!-- or |publication = --><!-- organization's principal body (assembly, committee, board, etc.) or publication --> | parent_organization = <!-- or |parent_organisation = --> | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | disbursements = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | endowment_year = | funding = <!-- source of funding e.g. for "think tanks" --> | num_staff = | num_staff_year = | num_volunteers = | num_volunteers_year = | num_students = | num_students_year = | awards = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | remarks = | former_name = <!-- or |former_name = --> | footnotes = }} The '''Malasakit Center''' refers to a chain of one-stop-shop centers for medical and financial assistance provided by various agencies of the Philippine government.
==Background== The Malasakit Center program was started by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, led by Bong Go following a directive of President Rodrigo Duterte. The center is meant as a one-stop shop for government medical assistance for indigent Filipinos. The first Malasakit Center opened in February 2018.<ref name=launchindavao>{{cite news |last1=Revita |first1=Juliet C. |title=Malasakit Center launched in Davao City |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1765959/Davao/Local-News/Malasakit-Center-launched-in-Davao-City |access-date=26 July 2021 |work=Sunstar |date=24 September 2018 |language=English}}</ref><ref name=reveals>{{cite news |title=Bong Go reveals role in creating Malasakit Centers |url=https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/manila-bulletin/20190125/281608126641450 |access-date=26 July 2021 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=25 January 2019|language=en, tl}}</ref>
When Go was elected Senator in 2019, he continued to promote the Malasakit Center; authoring a bill in the Senate that would institutionalize the center.<ref name=makatao>{{cite news |last1=Toledo |first1=Mike |title=Makatao at may Malasakit |url=https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/newsmakers/2020/11/17/2057303/makatao-may-malasakit |access-date=26 July 2021 |work=The Philippine Star |date=17 November 2020}}</ref>
Go authored Senate Bill No. 1076 which was filed on September 26, 2019. While House of Representatives member Angelina Tan of Quezon wrote the counterpart bill, House Bill No. 5477 and filed it on December 3, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fact-Check: Bong Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act in the Senate |url=https://pressone.ph/fact-check-bong-go-is-the-principal-author-and-sponsor-of-the-malasakit-centers-act-in-the-senate |website=PressOnePH |access-date=5 August 2025 |date=14 May 2025}}</ref>
President Duterte signed into law on December 3, 2019, the Malasakit Center Act, also known as Republic Act No. 11463.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Darryl John |title=Duterte OKs institutionalization of Malasakit Centers |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1197653/duterte-approves-institutionalization-of-malasakit-centers |access-date=26 July 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=3 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref> As per law, the government is obliged to establish Malasakit Centers in all hospitals under the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital. The legislation also authorizes the Philippine National Police to set up of such facilities.<ref name=makatao/>
==Services== thumb|Interior of a Malasakit Center <!---Summary only---> Eligible indigent Filipinos can avail multiple subsidies from various government agencies in Malasakit Centers. Prior to the establishment of Malasakit Centers, indigents had to fill up multiple documents and go to separate government offices to lessen their medical expenses.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bong Go wants to expand 'Malasakit Centers' to help ailing poor |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/09/02/go-wants-to-expand-malasakit-centers-to-help-ailing-poor/ |access-date=26 July 2021 |work=BusinessMirror |date=2 September 2018}}</ref>
The Malasakit Center processes the availing of subsidies from the following government agencies:<ref name=reveals/>
*Department of Health *Department of Social Welfare and Development *PhilHealth *Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office *Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
==Branches== As of May 2025, there are 167 Malasakit Centers across the Philippines, with 93 in Luzon, 30 in the Visayas and 44 in Mindanao.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Escosio |first1=Jan |title=Bong Go vows continuous oversight on Malasakit Centers Law |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2062280/bong-go-vows-continuous-oversight-on-malasakit-centers-law |access-date=23 May 2025 |work=Philippine Daily inquirer |date=21 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== *BUCAS center
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Medical and health organizations based in the Philippines Category:2018 establishments in the Philippines Category:Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte Category:Government aid programs