A GROUP of doctors in Davao City, dubbed "UniTeaMD," expressed their support for the candidacy of UniTeam presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and vice-presidential be City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio.
In a press conference on Saturday, April 9, UniTeaMD Davao Region lead convenor Dr. Jett Lu said their group is composed of various physicians and other healthcare personnel from various regions in Mindanao, namely Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga regions.
Lu said their group supports the advocacy of the UniTeam tandem, wherein the “positivity” that the BBM-Sara UniTeam espouses resonated loudly among workers in the healthcare industry.
“We want to give a face that there are doctors who support the UniTeam as we share the vision of unity. We want to spread only good vibes and not negative campaigning,” Lu said.
“The optimistic approach we employ in the management of disease parallels the positive approach of the UniTeam in solving the country's problems, and in conducting their campaign,” Lu added.
He also cited that the BBM-Sara tandem is the only tandem that has expressed willingness to continue with the constructive programs of the present administration.
“We are optimistic about attaining sustainable growth and development in the next six years, and hopefully, beyond,” he said.
Dr. Sergio Demontaño Jr., UniTeaMD convenor in Soccsksargen, said that Marcos, during a chance talk in a press conference in General Santos City, vowed to end the Covid-19 pandemic in his administration.
“He [Marcos] vowed to give priority to the front-liners. He understands our plight during the pandemic and he assured us that he will help us,” he said.
Among the issues being raised during the conference, according to Demontaño, is the problem with PhilHealth claims.
Meanwhile, Dr. Asterio Ronquillo, convenor of the Caraga Region, urged doctors to join their advocacy.
“We are still confronted with the threats of Covid-19. We urged other doctors to join our cause because this tandem will give us solutions to these problems,” Ronquillo said.
Both Marcos and Duterte-Carpio have not yet issued a statement in response to the endorsement of UniTeaMD.
Duterte-Carpio said in a previous interview that there is a need to strengthen the country's healthcare system as the city, during the two-year Covid-19 pandemic response, experienced a shortage of medical workers responding to the pandemic.
She said that the lack of manpower continues to be among the main problems in addressing the pandemic.