‘P18.8M aid benefited 13,238 in and outpatients in Kalinga through Malasakit Center ’ - KPH First Sem Data of 2025

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Over ₱18 million in medical and financial assistance was made available to iKalinga beneficiaries through the Malasakit Center program from January to June 2025, according to the latest report from the Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH).

The assistance supported thousands of indigent patients for hospitalization, medicines, and other health needs, funded by agencies like Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and PhilHealth.

The aid totaling to P18, 860, 410.06 million was provided to 13,238 inpatients and outpatients, covering hospital bills, confinement costs, medicines, supplies, implants, lab tests, diagnostic procedures, outsourced services, and room charges.

Of the total beneficiaries, 832 were inpatients, while 11,869 received outpatient services.

Talking to GURU Press Cordillera, Social Welfare Officer (SWO) under the Malasakit Center, Virginia M. Bitanga highlighted the continuing importance of the Malasakit Center in bridging healthcare access for marginalized communities.

Malasakit Centers serve as a one-stop shop for agencies like PhilHealth, PCSO, and DSWD, aiming to provide medical and financial aid to indigent patients without the need to leave the hospital.

Bitanga added that the daily fund is limited to around ₱20,000 covering about 10 patients on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to cancer patients, dialysis cases, and accident victims.

“….bale limited metlang kasi diay fund da in a day ket depende. Nu ti i-utilize da in a day ket 20,000 ket yun lang talaga so more or less, 10 patients in a day, so ti ikaskasta min, first come- first served. Ngem ti serve-an mi kuma ket dagidiay cance patients, dialysis tapos dagidiay naak-aksidente should be ti i-cater mi—narigat gamin nu haan tayo met piman pagbigyan isuda,” Bitanga shared.

The SWO stressed added that P17, 000,308 million was utilized from the above-mentioned amount. But this excludes DSWD food aid. Food aid is given to patients confined for five days— those assessed and qualified will receive at least ₱3,000 each.

“…..17,000,308 excluding diay DSWD ta isuda gamin ket agited da met ti food assistance kadagidiay qualified patients. Usually, bale 5 days nga ma-confine da and nu ma-qualify da, agpa-assess da ti social worker and then nu makapasa da with the requirements, maikkan da ti assistance with at least 3,000 each,” said Bitanga.

With ongoing local and national support, the center and its constituents hope for the center’s reach and impact to be expanded in the coming months.