Reelectionist Sen. JV Ejercito says IRRS should be 'faithful' to the intentions of UHC, DHSUD

REELECTIONIST Senator JV Ejercito on Friday said the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs) to be formulated for the Universal Health Care Act (UHC) and the Creation of Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act (DHSUD) laws should be "faithful" to their noble intentions.

Ejercito issued the statement following President Duterte's signing into law the UHC (Republic Act 11223) and DHSUD (Republic Act No. 11201), two landmark measures that the senator had spearheaded.

Ejercito, who earned the moniker "Mr. Healthcare" as a recognition of his efforts for the UHC, said the IRRs should not deviate from the true meaning of the two newly-enacted laws.

"There is a saying that 'the devil is in the detail.' I am absolutely not pre-empting the outcome of the IRRs, but just giving unsolicited advice to those who will constitute the panel that will discuss and formulate the IRRs for them to be accurate in understanding, interpreting, and detailing the laws," he said.

He added: "Sa UHC, magiging abot-kaya na ang pagpapagamot tulad ng check-up, piling laboratory tests, at pagpapa-ospital dahil lahat ng Pilipino ay automatic members na ng PhilHealth. Ang DHSUD naman ay para mapabilis at maiayos ang pamamahagi ng bahay sa mga beneficiary sa ilalim ng housing program ng gobyerno. I hope these noble intentions and the other pro-people objectives will truly be reflected in the IRRs."

As a senator elected in 2013, Ejercito has authored 75 laws, 572 bills including co-authorships, and 108 resolutions.

Included in Ejercito's list of laws, aside from UHC and DHSUD, are free irrigation, anti-gricultural smuggling, free college education in State Colleges and Universities, and Sangguniang Kabataan reform, among others.

Ejercito started his political career when he was elected mayor of San Juan and served for three consecutive terms (2001-2010) where his successful health and housing programs are giving benefits to the people of San Juan until now.

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines-San Juan Campus was built in 2008, also during his term, which has already produced more than 10,000 scholars.

Then, he served as a congressman representing the City of San Juan for one term (2010-2013).