Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito on Sunday, August 23, pledged to provide additional equipment for the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City and ensure that funds are included in the 2027 budget for the Negros Island Region.
Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, met with the heads of the Negros Occidental provincial government hospitals, asked for their wish lists, and toured the TLJPH on Sunday, August 23.
“I am not a magician, but we will try to slowly complete the needed equipment of the provincial government hospitals,” he said.
Ejercito, who is the primary author of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, said he wants to help improve the provincial government-run hospitals to decongest the overcrowded Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City.
One of the major features of the UHC is the improvement of the service delivery network by making health care facilities up to par, which will be prioritized in the 2027 budget, he said.
He also said the subsidy for PhilHealth will be increased so that it can provide better benefit packages and ensure zero balance billing.
NIR BUDGET
Ejercito also said, as author of the law that created the Negros Island Region, he will make sure that it will be funded and that the establishment of the regional offices is prioritized.
The senator also stressed the need for the country to increase public spending to bring up the country’s GDP, which dropped from 7 percent to 2 percent following the slowing down of infrastructure projects triggered by the flood control scandals.
The people and businesses are already feeling the crunch because of the drop in the GDP, so there is a need to strike a balance, he said.
“Those who stole money should be held accountable, but at the same time we need to accelerate government spending to increase sustainable jobs and opportunities,” Ejercito said.
SIDA LAW
Ejercito, who is also an author of the Sugar Industry Development Act, said amendments will be made to make it relevant to current needs.*
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