Sen. Ejercito speaks at the Asia-Pacific parliamentarians meeting on global health

PARLIAMENTARIANS from countries in the Asia-Pacific Region held today (August 23) in Manila the "Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum for Global Health Fourth Meeting" with Senator JV Ejercito as the guest speaker.

Ejercito, Co-Chairman of the Fourth Meeting, welcomed the delegates led by Forum President Professor Keizo Takemi, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director Dr. Shin Young-soo, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and House of Representatives health committee Chairperson Rep. Angelina Tan.

"It is our honor and privilege to host this Fourth Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian forum on Global Health...Today, we open our meeting in support of the global call to advance universal health coverage, or, as we call it here in the Philippines, universal health 'care'," he said in his welcome address. The forum was held at the WHO Regional Headquarters in UN Avenue, Manila.

The highlights of the meeting include the discussion of the important role of the parliamentarians for the sustainable financing and regulations for universal health care.

Ejercito, who is the author of "Universal Health Care for All Filipinos Act" bill, has assured the parliamentarians that the Philippines aligns itself with countries in the Asia-Pacific in striving to make quality health care accessible to the people.

"Filipinos are one with you, our sisters and brothers in Asia and the Pacific, in seeking affordable and accessible quality health care for our people. In health, there are no borders, no colors, no races; only humanity," he said.

Ejercito also attended the third forum held last year in Tokyo, Japan.