AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes (Facebook)

Indigenous people’s (IP) communities shouldn't be left out in the cold when it comes to their healthcare needs. 

Thus, said AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes, who pushed for improved access to better health services in IP communities and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA). 

“The healthcare needs of our indigenous people’s communities should not be neglected and the services provided by the government should reach them no matter where they are situated,” Reyes said in a statement Wednesday night, Oct. 25. 

The neophyte lawmaker claimed that even after the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Act, providing healthcare services to IP communities remains a challenge because they live in remote areas. 

"Medical services should be accessible, and we will continue to push for programs and legislation that would allocate more funds to bring health services closer to the people, especially our indigenous communities," Reyes said. 

He said AnaKalusugan Party-list will continue to bring health and social services closer to indigenous people’s communities. 

Most recently, the party-list group led medical missions for IP communities in San Jose Del Monte, for the Dumagat Tribe in Don Remedios Trinidad, and the Mangyans in Mindoro. 

On top of this, Reyes said the party-list continues to bring health and social services to different communities in need. 

He said that in the past year, the party-list led vaccination drives in Bauan, Laurel, Balete, Sta. Teresita, Malvar, and Nasugbu in the province of Batangas. 

They also held medical and dental missions in Norzagaray, Angat, San Juan del Monte, and Sta. Maria, in the province of Bulacan; in Hamtic, Bugasong, Pandan, Valderrama, Patnongon, San Remigio, Sibalom, and Anini-y in the province of Antique; and Lobo, Bauan, and Tingloy in the province of Batangas. 

They also organized feeding programs in the provinces of Bulacan and Romblon.