A doctor is seeking a seat in the Philippine senate as he believes that a medical practitioner is needed in the government amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Lawyer and physician Leo Olarte filed his certificate of candidacy on Wednesday, Oct. 6.
“Kailangan po ng isang doktor sa ating senado upang matigilan natin at magamot natin ang pinaka number 1 na problema ngayon sa mundo at sa ating mahal na bayang Pilipinas--- ang COVID-19 (We need a doctor in our senate so that we can stop and treat the number 1 problem today in the world and in our beloved country--- the COVID-19),” Olarte said in his speech.
He said that the COVID-19 pandemic has “severely destroyed and tormented our country and people for already two years.”
“This is our primary concern and medical problem that we must destroy as soon as possible.”
He said that medical experts should be at the forefront in the country’s pandemic response.
“It is logical that the final solution for this pandemic---will come from the qualified medical experts, not from any field,” said Olarte.
“The Philippine medical associations have a lot of medical experts that must be utilized to fight and to get a remedy to solve our pandemic problem,” he added.
Another doctor is also running for senator. Dr. Dominga Cecilia Padilla said she would push for the welfare of healthcare workers.
“Bilang senador tututukan ko ang kalusugan. Mahalaga na magkaroon sa Senado ng doktor na talagang nagpa-practice ng medisina. Nagpa practice po ako sa pribado ang pang gobyernong ospital (As a senator I will focus on health. It is important to have in the Senate a doctor who actually practices medicine. I practice in a private and government hospital),” said Padilla.
She would also push for reforms in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and also vowed to fight corruption.