Sen. JV pushes anew for the restoration of the P16.8 billion HFEP

REELECTIONIST Senator JV Ejercito described the zero-budget for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) for 2019 of the Department of Health (DOH) as anti-poor and a great disservice to the people.

"This is a great disservice to the people. Ang sa akin, why should we penalize the people. Kung may pagkukulang man sa implementation, kung mabagal ang absorptive capacity (ng DOH), hindi naman dapat taumbayan ang mag-suffer," he said.

Ejercito, the current chairman of the Senate health committee, issued the strong statement as he made a fresh commitment to fight for the restoration of the P30 billion, which included the P16.8 billion HFEP budget, slashed from the 2019 proposed appropriation for the DOH.

"Kahit hindi 'yung buong P30 billion, kahit kalahati na lang, 'yung P16 billion HFEP budget na lang ang maibalik, puwede na sa akin para matapos na 'yung mga 80 percent hanggang 100 percent completed na upgrading and expansion ng health facilities gaya ng mga barangay health station at hospital at malagyan na ng equipment," he said.

Ejercito also expressed fear that the implementation of the Universal Health Care measure, which he authored and sponsored and is now pending the signature of President Duterte for it to become a law, would be derailed if the HFEP would be not implemented because of zero-budget allocation.

"Kahit na ngayong pansamantalang bakasyon ay bumibisita pa rin ako sa mga ospital at nakakalungkot na nakikita ko ang mga pasyente nasa corridor na siksikan at very unhealthy at kulang ang mga medical equipment," he said.

He added: "Pero kung may HFEP para matapos ang upgrading and expansion ng mga facilities, lahat ng mga nasa corridor ay maipapasok na natin sa mga silid at magkakaroon na ng mga hospital equipment para maging kumpleto ang paggagamot sa kanila."