Lawmakers urged the Senate Thursday to give due attention to the House-approved measure seeking to establish the Samar Island Medical Center in Calbayog City, Samar that would respond to the health care needs of the people on the country’s third largest island.
“We appeal to the Senate to expedite the passage of this measure (Samar Island Medical Center). We are confident that the Senate is one with our goal to pass this bill into law. An effective and comprehensive healthcare system is needed in Samar to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. We must improve our system and continue working towards accessible healthcare for all,” Tingog party-list Rep Yedda Marie K. Romualdez said in a statement after the House of Representatives approved Wednesday on third and final reading House Bill No. 8195 or the proposed creation of the Samar Island Medical Center.
Joining Romualdez in her appeal to the Senate leadership to shepherd the approval of the measure were House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, Northern Samar Paul Ruiz Daza, Northern Samar Rep. Jose “Jun” Ong Jr., and Parañaque City Rep. Eric Olivarez. They are all principal authors of HB No. 8195, which got the nod of 200 House members.
Yedda, chairperson of the House Committee on Welfare of Children, noted that "the counterpart measure is now pending before the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.”
"Patients and their families have to travel four to five hours from Northern Samar, three to four hours from Eastern Samar, and two to three hours from Samar just to get to the nearest government tertiary hospital located in Tacloban (Leyte). With these three provinces already having one of the highest poverty incidence in the country, the availability of accessible and affordable hospital care is one of its most pressing needs,” she said.
Sarmiento also cited the pressing need to create such tertiary government hospital to address the delivery of urgent medical needs to his fellow Samarnons.
“This is a very crucial piece of legislation for a better delivery of health care system in Samar. Our constituents will benefit from the creation of the hospital which is an essential part of the health system development in Region 8,” he said.
"If ever this would be given to us, it's going to be a big help. Rest assured that the help coming from the national government would be truly valued by the Samarnons. And we want to contribute as well to the development of this country.”
HB No. 8195 provides the establishment of the Samar Island Medical Center in Calbayog.
The proposed tertiary hospital shall be under the control, supervision, and management of the Department of Health (DoH), the measure provides.