FACT CHECK: No P5,000 cash aid from Malasakit Centers

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Senator Bong Go debunks the post circulating online, adding that Malasakit Centers do not distribute cash aid as their mandate is to reduce patients' hospital bills

Claim: Senator Bong Go, through the Malasakit Centers, will give P5,000 cash aid to those sending a message to a Facebook page.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-check this: The claim was made in a Facebook post bearing the Senate logo and Go’s photo, which has 2,500 shares and 460 reactions as of writing. Text on the post reads, “Bibigyan ko ng ayuda ang lahat ng mag-message sa akin. P5,000 cash assistance.”  

(I will give aid to everyone who messages me. P5,000 cash assistance.)

The post also quotes Go as saying: “Pangakong tulong ay agad na iaabot sa inyo, magmessage dito sa page namin.” 

(The promised assistance will reach you immediately. Message us on our page.)

The facts: Go, the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, debunked the claim on his Facebook account on May 13.

Go said the supposed P5,000 cash assistance is fake, and warned the public against clicking suspicious links asking for personal information to avoid falling victim to potential scams. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)

Go also clarified that the mandate of the Malasakit Centers is to provide health services to patients who cannot afford medical services and help reduce patients’ hospital bills.

“Kailanman, hindi namimigay ng pera ang ating mga Malasakit Centers dahil ang mandato nito ay ang tulungang mabawasan ang hospital bill ng pasyente,” Go added.

(Our Malasakit Centers never give out money because their mandate is to help reduce the patient’s hospital bill.)

One-stop shop: Malasakit Centers are one-stop hubs in government hospitals that aim to streamline access to health services by providing medical and financial aid for those in need and unable to afford medical services.

The program consolidates the efforts of the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Through the centers, patients can seek assistance from these agencies without having to leave hospital premises.

Impostor Facebook page: The false claim circulated online after Go’s proclamation as the top senatorial winner in the 2025 midterm elections. According to the transparency information on the “Malasakit – Cash Assistance” Facebook page, the page was just created on May 21, 2025.

As of writing, all the posts from the page are about the supposed cash assistance from the Malasakit Centers and Go. Moreover, the post’s captions include a supposed registration link that redirects users to an online shopping website. 

Fact-checks: Rappler has previously debunked false claims related to cash aid programs supposedly offered by various government agencies:

• FACT CHECK: Malasakit Centers have no educational program
• FACT CHECK: No PhilSys cash aid for national ID registration
• FACT CHECK: DepEd is not giving P10,000 cash aid
• FACT CHECK: 4ps payout schedule circulating online is unofficial, with fake links

For legitimate information on obtaining health assistance, visit the Malasakit Program Office website. – Owenh Jake Toledo/Rappler.com

Owenh Jake Toledo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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