Tingog Party-list Yedda Romualdez (left), Speaker Martin Romualdez (Facebook)




High-ranking House of Representatives members has spearheaded the signing of an agreement that would benefit poor patients in Eastern Visayas. The office of the Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list, led by Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, initiated the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Private Hospital Institutions from all over Region VIII. As per the MOA that was signed Friday afternoon, July 7, at the Tacloban Astrodome in Leyte, patients from the region will be able to access the medical assistance for indigent patients in these private institutions. Rep. Romualdez, in her message at the event, emphasized that healthcare is a fundamental right, a cornerstone of a just and equitable society that should be accessible to all. However, due to the limitations of our public hospitals, she recognized the need to expand the government’s medical assistance to indigent patients beyond the confines of public hospitals. "We aim to bridge the gap between the privileged and the underprivileged, ensuring that financial constraints no longer hinder access to medical care," said the wife of Speaker Romualdez and chairperson of the House Committee on Accounts. She said that the MOA acknowledges the invaluable role that private institutions play in serving communities and alleviating the burden on the public healthcare system. "Together, we can create a healthcare landscape where resources are shared, expertise is pooled, and lives are transformed," the lady legislator noted. Acidre is a deputy majority leader in the House. Region VIII is composed of Biliran, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.