Aksyon Demokratiko vice presidential candidate Willie Ong reiterated the need for a hospital dedicated to infectious diseases in the country.
During the CNN Philippines’ vice presidential debate on Saturday, Feb. 26, Ong questioned Senate President Tito Sotto and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan for not enacting any law that would have mandated the construction of infectious disease hospitals.
“Salamat kay Sen. Kiko at Sotto, na-pass Bayanihan. Pero bakit di nakapagpatayo ng ospital? (Thank you Sen. Kiko and Sotto for passing Bayanihan. But why is there no single hospital built?),” he asked.
Ong pointed out that hospitals dedicated to infectious disease will allow existing hospitals to serve patients who have other major ailments.
“Simple lang po, kailangan natin magtayo ng infectious disease hospital. Dun natin ilalagay yung mga COVID patients. Hindi pwede sa PGH kasi namamatay yung mga pasyente natin. (It's just simple, we need to build an infectious disease hospital. We will put the COVID patients there. PGH is not possible because our patients are dying),” he said.
Ong also proposed the creation of the Cancer Center of the Philippines.
Sotto, meanwhile, said Bayanihan 1 was "crafted specifically to address the problem of those who will be victims of the lockdown.” "Ayuda ang inaasikaso namin (We are taking care of the aid)," he said.
Ong has been repeatedly pushing the government to create an infectious disease hospital, children’s hospital, and Cancer Center of the Philippines.