No Filipino must be left behind
I hope that all our public officials would likewise remember that the funding for the allocations contained therein is from the hard-earned money, the blood, and sweat, of every taxpaying Filipino.
Daily TribuneI hope that all our public officials would likewise remember that the funding for the allocations contained therein is from the hard-earned money, the blood, and sweat, of every taxpaying Filipino.
Public office is a public trust. This is a fundamental concept that has been serving as a paramount guide for us, public servants, in exercising powers merely entrusted to us by the people, for the people.
This same principle guided us during the weeks of budget deliberations and the subsequent bicameral conference committee meeting that finally bore fruit to the 2023 General Appropriations Act signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 16 December.
I congratulate my fellow legislators and fellow servants of the people from various offices and agencies who tirelessly worked during the whole budgeting process. This budget is very important and critical as we are gradually undertaking our inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, I am also particularly happy that we have a significant funding for key health-related programs we fought for, such as medical assistance for indigent patients; construction of more Super Health Centers and specialty centers; Cancer Assistance Fund; hiring of immunization vaccinators to strengthen our immunization program for other diseases, especially for our children; funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for expanded free dialysis coverage, mental health outpatient coverage, comprehensive outpatient benefit package including free medical check-up, and other improvements in benefit package; and mental health program, among others.
I cannot overemphasize how important it is for us to look after the health and well-being of our people. Poor access to health services, inadequate medical facilities, and exorbitant hospital fees are particularly damning for our ordinary working Filipinos who can ill afford to miss a day's wage, more so spend their income on anything other than food and other bare necessities.
Just as we took pains to consider the most pressing concerns of our Filipino people while crafting the GAA, I hope that all our public officials would likewise remember that the funding for the allocations contained therein is from the hard-earned money, the blood, and sweat, of every taxpaying Filipino. Thus, not only should we totally thwart corruption, we must likewise ensure that not a single centavo of the public funds is wasted.
Every centavo, every peso goes a long way in our continuous battle against rising inflation, unemployment, pandemic, and other issues that bar our people from enjoying a more comfortable life.
Meanwhile, to provide our struggling Filipinos with a small respite from these formidable challenges, I continue to personally aid vulnerable residents across the country, as long as time permits.
I started a series of relief operations last week by visiting Bulacan on 12 December. There, I attended the inauguration of the Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bocaue and inspected the Super Health Center in Pandi, Bulacan before aiding 211 indigents in the latter town.
This was followed by another set of distributions on 15 December in Batangas where I handed out assistance to 1,000 indigents in San Nicolas and another thousand in Sta. Teresita. I then proceeded to Quezon City to join the launch of the Cooperative Development Authority-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Partnership Program on Medical Assistance for Cooperatives.
Last 16 December, on the same day that I attended the ceremonial signing of our 2023 GAA, I went to check on the situation of 208 fire-hit households in Parañaque City and extended to them several relief items to hasten their recovery.
Yesterday, 18 December, I likewise visited the province of Cagayan where I, together with my team, assisted a thousand disadvantaged residents from Enrile town, which passed a resolution making me an adopted son, and Tuguegarao City as they celebrated their founding anniversary.
Simultaneously, my office has been distributing aid to more vulnerable communities nationwide, including 251 in Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte; 586 in Laurel, Batangas; 1,659 in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; 1,200 in Bataraza, 300 in Narra, and 350 in Brooke's Point, Palawan; 793 in Iba, Zambales; 333 in Manticao, 375 in Naawan, and 500 in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental; and 2,053 in Trinidad, 55 in Lila, 178 in Panglao, 515 in Tagbilaran City and 317 in Talibon, Bohol.
More fire victims were likewise assisted. Beneficiaries include 225 in Cebu City; 128 in Cotabato City; 100 in Manila City; 66 in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur; ten families in Cagayan de Oro City; six families in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato; two families in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte; another two in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur; and one household in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.
In addition, 90 flood victims in Cagayan de Oro City and 1,379 more typhoon-affected residents in Aloguinsan, Cebu received aid.
I hope that we can all celebrate the holidays secure in the thought that our government is doing its best to ensure that no Filipino is left behind toward a brighter future.