Pampanga Vice-Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao today said that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan should enact a comprehensive provincial health act which shall encompass all the health requirements and health needs of the provincial populace.
Presiding over the SP’s regular session, Guiao ordered that a working committee be formed in next week’s session of the august body to study the drafting of the said comprehensive act to include all legislative health needs, policies on all aspects of hospital procedures including fees and other health requirements, both curative and preventive.
The Vice-Governor said that the said act is in line with Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda’s desire “to ensure the provision and delivery of much needed health services to our constituents”.
He added that it is fitting if the SP could pass the health act during the Governor’s term as it augurs well with her priority agenda.
“I also hope that we could pass this act during my term,” he added.
Guiao said that the proposed ordinance of Board Member Cris Garbo which pertains to hospital policies and procedures and proposed adoption of updated hospital fees be considered for inclusion in the said provincial health act.
Garbo said that his proposal was a consolidated effort of district and regional hospitals and others concerned with said health services.
The board member said that at present our hospitals in the province are lagging behind other hospitals in various areas especially in terms of services and facilities.
Board Member Tarcicio Halili, meanwhile, said that rehabilitation of government hospitals in the province should take precedence over the increase of hospital fees.
To this, Guiao commented that all this and other pertinent issues shall be discussed by the working committee that will be formed next week.
Before the adjournment of the session, the newly approved member of the board, Emmanuel Manalo, expressed his thanks for being given a chance to be part of the SP for the next three months. He said that he would do his best to contribute to the discussions ofthe board.
Manalo, a councilor of Mexico town, was nominated by the Pampanga Councilors League (PCL) to become an interim representative of the league to the board.
(Pampanga PIO)
