
Makati City Mayor and senatorial bet Abby Binay on Wednesday, April 30, aired her disappointment over the improper utilization of government funds to improve the country's healthcare services.
"Kung tutuusin, may pera naman. Ang problema lang, hindi po nagagamit ng tama. The problem is utilization (In fact, there is money allocated for it. However, it is not being used properly. The problem is utilization)," Binay said in a radio interview.
She cited as examples PhilHealth funds and “sin tax” revenues that have remained underutilized along with continuing appropriations that are funded annually but are still unspent.
“These are the things we need to scrutinize in the Senate. Our resources may be limited, but the funds are there. We only need to determine how best to use them to provide better services to the people, including better health care," Binay explained.
During the interview, the mayor underscored her proposal to redirect part of the funds for financial assistance under programs such as Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) for the provision of free maintenance medicines to beneficiaries, instead of plain cash.
“At least, alam natin kung saan napupunta ‘yung tulong. Gamot ang kailangan ng mga tao, hindi basta pera (At least we know where the assistance is going. The people need medicines, not just money)," she stressed.
The senatorial aspirant also called for legislative reforms to streamline the Public Private Partnership (PPP) approval process as she cited the success of Makati’s PPP projects, particularly in healthcare.
She said that the PPP Center should serve as a repository rather than a gatekeeper to encourage more local government units, especially those with limited resources, to pursue PPP initiatives without having to contend with unnecessary bureaucratic delays.
“Kung kaya ng Makati, kaya din ng ibang LGUs, basta may tamang mekanismo at suporta (If Makati can do it, then so can other local government units. All they need are the right mechanism and support)."