I have often said this but it bears repeating that we must continue to strengthen our healthcare system because an investment in the health of our people is an investment in our country's future.

This is why I am thankful to my colleagues for the increments in our health budget in the proposed 2023 General Appropriations Act. Last 8 November, we began the plenary deliberations in the Senate on the said measure and I am honored to have co-sponsored the same as it provides for much-needed increases in our priority sectors, including public health and sports.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, I particularly commend the inclusion of an additional budget for the expansion and strengthening of epidemiology and surveillance systems of the Department of Health. I also thank my fellow lawmakers for supporting yet again the additional budget for the Cancer Assistance Fund.

Meanwhile, considering the markedly low immunization rates against vaccine-preventable diseases in the country, I am thankful for the continued efforts to strengthen our inoculation drives. The DoH earlier cautioned that the low vaccination rates, not only with Covid-19 but also with other diseases, may result in outbreaks and future health crises. Like I always said, "Kung bakunado, mas protektado!"

Moreover, I laud the additional budgets for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program and the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients program. Through these, we would also be able to continue establishing additional Super Health Centers throughout the country and sustain the operations of the Malasakit Centers program to improve the accessibility of public health services to more Filipinos.

In addition, I am thankful for the adoption of the proposed special provision under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation budget that shall impress upon PhilHealth the use of the budget line item to improve the benefits package under the Universal Health Care Act.

I have personally witnessed the struggles of our indigent Filipinos to seek medical attention. Thus, I am hopeful that these developments would enable us to progressively realize universal health care in the country and ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to health services.

Meanwhile, as Chair of the Committee on Sports, I continue to push for an additional budget for the operations of the National Academy of Sports to support our student-athletes. I authored and co-sponsored Republic Act 11470, establishing the NAS, so we can have a government-run learning facility that offers a secondary education program with an integrated special curriculum on sports.