THE Department of Health (DOH) and Tingog party-list turned over on Tuesday, June 9, eight new land ambulances for local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas.
The ambulances were released as assistance for the Motor Transport Vehicle-Land Ambulance Project 2019 to several LGUs in Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Southern Leyte, and Leyte provinces under the DOH-Eastern Visayas Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP), through the effort of Tingog party-list Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez.
Philip Jude Acidre, chief political officer of Tingog party-list, said Romualdez was instrumental in the realization of the new ambulances after coordinating with DOH-Eastern Visayas and several district congressmen, including Leyte First District Representative and House Majority Floor Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
“When the 2020 National Expenditure Program, the administration’s project proposal, was submitted to Congress, we noted that none of the proposed infrastructure and ambulance projects under the HFEP submitted by DOH-Eastern Visayas was included,” said Acidre.
“We asked the DOH officials present during the budget hearings to include funding for these proposed projects. Eventually, DOH listened, and thankfully we were able to convince them,” he added.
According to the Tingog party-list official, the passage of the 2020 General Appropriations Act included the allocation for 34 land ambulances and funding for several hospital infrastructure projects in Leyte and Northern Samar provinces, including more P70 million for the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City.
“This is exactly how true regional representation should work. While we give our best in extending everyday social services such as medical assistance programs, crisis intervention, livelihood projects and relief in times of disasters, greater attention should be given in ensuring that impactful projects in education and healthcare are prioritized,” he said.
“Although because of budget realignment due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid19) response, the implementation of several of these infra projects would be delayed. Tingog party-list nonetheless is happy to report that of the more than a hundred infrastructure projects that it was able to push for in its first year in office, a significant majority of these were allocated to hospitals and state colleges and universities. This is a testament to our commitment to work for true regional development,” added Acidre.
Meanwhile, Acidre announced another milestone for Tingog partylist and for Eastern Visayas, as two of its priority bills authored by the Romualdez couple were already approved on second reading.
These are House Bill 1154, an act increasing the bed capacity of Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City from 500 to 1,500, authorizing the increase of its medical personnel, upgrading its services, facilities and professional healthcare service and appropriating funds thereof and renaming it to Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC); and House Bill 1152, an act converting the Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital (Schistosomiasis Hospital) in Palo, Leyte into a general hospital to be known as the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital, increasing its bed capacity from 25 to 100, upgrading its services, facilities and professional healthcare service and appropriating funds thereof.
“In the last elections, we promised that Tingog party-list will work hard for the region to get a bigger share in the national budget. We are proud of the modest achievements that we have made on our first year. But more needs to be done, and we will continue to be as resolute and determined as always,” said Acidre. (SunStar Philippines)