Malasakit Center helps deaf child hear

SEN. Bong Go's Malasakit Center has recently helped a deaf two-year-old girl heal her hearing impairment.

Since its founding by the senator in February 2024, the Malasakit Center initiative has evolved into a crucial support system for countless poor Filipinos facing severe medical conditions.

Maan Anthonette Ronquillo's two-year-old child Sian suffering from severe bilateral hearing loss was one of the countless others who benefited from Malasakit Center.

Maan was devastated upon learning that her daughter was unable to hear and cannot speak. The only hope that the mother knew to fix the hearing problem was the expensive cochlear implant surgery, which the Roquillo family cannot afford.

«I lost hope because… the price for my child's implant is no joke,» Maan said.

In July 2023, Maan had the opportunity to approach Senator Go. «I thought of approaching him because I know he can help my child. I was not mistaken… he helped us a lot,» she said.

Through the support of the Malasakit Center in a hospital, Maan's daughter had undergone a life-changing surgery.

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«You were the means to change my baby's life and give her a good future. Because of your help, my child can now hear. Thank you very much, Senator Bong Go,» Maan said after the successful surgery.

Malasakit Centers (MCs) bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health (DoH), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Republic Act 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program.

Now, there are 165 operational MCs nationwide, ready to assist with patients' medical expenses.

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JAVIER JOE ISMAEL