Senate Committee on Health and Demography chair Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday lauded President Duterte for signing into law four local hospital bills which all seek to improve the delivery of healthcare services in various parts of the country.
These include measures which will establish hospitals or upgrade existing ones in Tayabas City, Quezon; Calbayog City, Samar; Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; and Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
“The necessity to equip and upgrade our government health institutions is underscored as we face the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also our responsibility as legislators to push for measures to address the lack of adequate facilities and equipment in our government hospitals, particularly at these critical times,” Go said in a statement.
“I laud the President for his immediate action and continuous support in our bid to improve the healthcare system in the country,” the senator added.
The newly-signed measures are Republic Act No. 11702, which establishes the Southern Luzon Medical Center in Tayabas City; RA 11703 which establishes the Samar Island Medical Center in Calbayog City; RA 11705 which establishes the Ilocos Sur Medical Center in Candon City; and RA 11704 which increases the bed capacity of the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City.
DPJGMRMC is also home to a Malasakit Center. The Department of Health (DOH) will be in charge of their operations.
Go, sponsor of the said measures in the Senate, said these new laws will help address issues on delivery of public health services. It would also complement the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act in line with the goal of the Duterte Administration of providing quality healthcare services for all Filipinos, wherever they are in the country.
According to the lawmaker, 11 other measures that seek to establish or upgrade DOH-run hospitals are pending signature of the President.