PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said that it would be good if a doctor is elected to the Senate as legislations related to public health go through rigorous debates in the Senate.

Lacson endorsed medical expert Dr. Minguita Padilla who is seeking a Senate seat when asked on the renationalization of the Benguet General Hospital.

The senator was asked why the bill proposing to renationalize the BeGH did not make it in the Senate when its counterpart measure in the House of Representatives has been passed.

Lacson, a member of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said that their committee chairman, Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, failed to defend the measure when Senator Franklin Drilon interpellated it.

Lacson said Go had a hard time answering Drilon’s questions during their extended period of interpellation on the bill.

“E, siyempre, hindi naman talaga doktor si Senator Bong Go, tapos neophyte, medyo nahirapan siyang mag-defend ng budget. ‘Yung iba naipasa—‘yung number of hospital beds, ‘yung mga ganoon — pero may mga bills na kasama ‘yung sa Benguet na hindi nailusot,” he said.

“Siguro kung si Dra. Minguita ‘yung chairman of Committee on Health, baka kaya niyang i-defend, baka maipasa at malamang maipasa ‘yung bill tungkol sa Benguet na hospital. So, importante may doktor sa Senado, ‘yun ang sinasabi ko,” the senator added.

Benguet residents want to renationalize BeGH so the government can provide adequate funds for its expansion, facility upgrade and competitive salary for its health workers.

Padilla said she understood the frustration of the public and the healthcare workers when it comes to these issues and it is precisely the reason behind her decision to seek a public office under Partido Reporma.

“Ako naman ho, kung papalarin at mauupo, definitely gusto namin makita ‘yung mga provincial hospital pati mga barangay health station na ma-improve. That’s what we want. Ako ho ang isa sa mga tumulak at nag-lobby para sa Universal Health Care Act,” Padilla said.

She said that if she gets elected, she will help the next administration properly fund the Universal Health Care program so it can be fully implemented, as well as enact measures that will prepare the country against future pandemic.