UMAAPELA si ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Go Yap, na siya ring Legislative Caretaker ng Benguet Lone District, sa Senado na makinig sa mamamayan at ipasa na ang Benguet General Hospital Renationalization Bill.

Nauna rito, ang HBN 6849, kasama ng iba pang local health bills, ay inisponsoran ni Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go para sa approval sa ikalawang pagbasa ngunit ang naturang panukala ay hindi naaprubahan dahil sa ilang isyu na inungkat ni Minority Leader Senator Franklin Drilon.

“It is very disappointing and heartbreaking. I went to Benguet General Hospital this morning for a test and our healthcare workers were asking me. Cong, paano na? May pag-asa pa ba? Hindi ba nila tayo nakikita? Halos madurog ang puso ko sa narinig ko,” ayon kay Yap.

Nabatid na isa sa mga isyu na itinataas ay ang health service delivery ay isang devolved function at ang pag-apruba sa HBN 6849 ay magdaragdag ng financial burden sa national government sa halip na sa local government.

“When we say it is devolved, are we saying that it is cast in stone? That we cannot undo it? That is exactly why we are subjecting it to the legislative process and it is well within our powers to amend laws, to make things right. Tama bang basta sabihin na lang na huwag na kasi devolved naman na yan? When health was devolved to LGUs, pareho ba ang estado ng mga local government? Pantay-pantay ba ng financial capacity? Kasama bang bumaba sa function ang pondo para sa devolution? Pero ang presyo ng gamot, ng mga hospital equipment, at ng marami pang ibang gastusin para sa ospital, pareho lang. Pareho ng gastos pero hindi pareho ang capacity. Kaya maraming probinsya talaga ang hirap na hirap umangat,” anang mambabatas.

Giit pa niya, “This bill will not only benefit Benguet, but also our neighbors in the Cordillera. We have been deprived far too long, we do not have local income like other provinces and big cities and we may not see another chance like this again to fix the system. Yung subsidy ng probinsya sa hospital, mas magagamit sana namin sa pagpapagawa ng mga bagong kalsada para mapadali ang biyahe ng mga gulay namin papunta sa trading centers at tataas ang kita ng mga magsasaka. There will be a domino effect. But right now, we are at the mercy of few people.”

Sinuspinde ng Senado ang konsiderasyon sa naturang panukala noong Huwebes at inaasahang ipagpapatuloy ang deliberasyon sa local hospital bills sa Martes.

“Senator Drilon, I would like to invite you here in Benguet. You are welcome to see what I am talking about. Leave the comforts of your home and help us. If you can’t find any reason in your books to support this bill, I pray that God will help you find a reason in your conscience and in your heart to make take this humanitarian step. We can’t watch another health worker leave because of low morale. We can’t see another person dying because we don’t have sufficient equipment. We can’t afford to refuse patient who traveled far because we don’t have hospital beds available,” apela pa ni Yap.

Inaasahan namang iisponsoran ulit ni Sen. Go, na siyang chairperson ng Senate Committee on Health, ang HBN 6849 sa susunod na linggo.

Pinasalamatan naman ni Yap si Sen. Go at sinabing, “We thank our Senator Bong Go for his malasakit and perseverance in sponsoring our measure. We will rally behind you. We thank you for going out of your way to check on our situation in the ground.” (CESAR BARQUILLA)