PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III, gave assurances that the problems of the healthcare sector will be one of their priorities if they win in the elections in May.

Lacson said that he wants to provide a better funding for the Department of Health for the full implementation of the Universal Healthcare Act of 2018.

The government has to provide at least P257 billion to achieve its target of providing free and better healthcare services for Filipinos.

“Dahil magta-transition na tayo from pandemic to endemic, bigyan natin ng pansin ‘yung Department of Health. Ang budget ng Department of Health sa 2022 nasa P268 billion. Pero kung mag-fu-full investment tayo sa universal healthcare, ang kailangan doon P257 billion,” Lacson said.

He explained that the P268-billion budget of the DoH this year does not cover the funding necessary for the UHC Law.

“Ang pangunahing kasama sa aming plataporma, siyempre, hindi natin puwedeng iwanan ‘yung health kasi ang Covid19 is the new normal. Whether it’s pandemic or endemic, we should always prepare for the next pandemic,” he said.

Lacson said the UHC Law is a vital tool to help prepare the healthcare sector against the threat of future pandemics. The senator envisions every public hospital and rural health unit equipped with the basic medical facilities and medicines.

This is part of the policies and strategies the Lacson-Sotto tandem wants to apply if they win. These plans are also tied to their flagship Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment or BRAVE program that aims to devolve certain state-funded projects to the local government units.