THE legislative caretaker of the lone district of Benguet filed House Bill No. 6171, which seeks to re-nationalize and increase bed capacity of Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) in La Trinidad.
According to Representative Eric Go Yap of Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list, the re-nationalization of BeGH will allow better focus on the provision and improvement of health services and facilities through sufficient funding from the National Government.
“Sa ngayon, ang bumubuhay sa Benguet General Hospital ay mula sa pondo ng ating probinsya at mula sa kita ng ospital. Hindi ito sapat para tugunan ang mga pangangailangang medikal ng ating mga kababayan sa Benguet at sa karatig-probinsya na lumalapit sa ospital para magpatingin at magpagamot ng kanilang sakit o kapansanan,” he noted.
“Kinakailangan na ibalik sa national government ang pamamahala ng ospital para higit na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan nito. Maraming pasyente ang nirerefer dito mula sa iba’t-ibang ospital. Kung hindi natin mabibigyan ng sapat na budget ang ospital, kakailanganin pa ng ating mga kababayan na lumayo para lang makahanap ng ospital na maaaring gamutin sila. Bawat oras ay mahalaga sa pagsalba ng buhay, kaya hindi dapat natin hahayaan na maging kulang-kulang ang pasilidad at serbisyo na maaaring ibigay ng Benguet General Hospital," the caretaker solon explained.
Further, the solon remarked that he will push for the establishment of a Malasakit Center in Benguet General Hospital to bring the services of the government closer to the people of Benguet.
“Balak rin natin magpatayo ng Malasakit Center kasama ng BeGH para mas mailapit natin ang serbisyo ng ating pamahalaan sa ating constituents. Kung kinakailangan nila ng medical o financial assistance, hindi na sila magpapalipat-lipat ng ahensiya para lang makakuha ng tulong.”
Yap was one of the principal authors of House Bill No. 5477 which was signed into law (Republic Act No. 11463) by the President Duterte last December 2019 which institutionalizes Malasakit Center - a one-stop shop for government medical and financial assistance. (SunStar Baguio)