Advancing public health transcends political colors — Harvey Keh

MANILA, Philippines — Advancing public health should transcend political colors, Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership Lead Convenor Harvey Keh said Wednesday.

On the sidelines of the Champions for Health Governance (CHG) Awards, Keh clarified that the local executives’ affiliation with a political party is not a factor in deciding which local government units (LGU) were given awards.

Keh told INQUIRER.net that the winners come from different political parties, and there is no political color in the judges’ choices.

“Kailangan ba PDP-Laban, kailangan ba Liberal Party, kailangan ba NUP? Walang gano’n (Do you need to belong to PDP-Laban, Liberal Party or NUP? There’s nothing like that), it’s just that in terms of looking up in issues of health and education, housing, basic necessities for the Filipino people, these issues should transcend political colors,” he added.

The question was raised after the awarding ceremony was held inside the Office of the Vice President. The Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, a group named after the late
interior secretary, was also involved in the selection process.

Jesse Robredo was a member of Kaya Natin. He was also the husband of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is currently the chairperson emeritus of the Liberal Party.

Keh said, however, that instead of focusing on differences, government officials and the private sector should seek possible areas of cooperation, including the initiative to build a better public health system.

“We should look for areas that we could collaborate instead of areas that would divide us,” he said. “Kasi’ yon ang pinaka-mahalaga (That’s the most important thing), politics should not come in the way of delivering quality health services to our fellow Filipinos.”

CHG cited five LGUs — the towns of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat, San Felipe in Zambales, Kidapawan in North Cotabato, and Cabatuan in Iloilo — for promoting excellent governance for healthy communities.

Other finalists include San Gabriel town in La Union, Kapangan in Benguet, Mina and Concepcion in Iloilo, and San Remigio in Cebu.

CHG is a cooperation between Kaya Natin, pharmaceutical company MSD, the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, and the Association of Municipal Health Officers in the Philippines.

READ: 5 LGUs receive award for excellence in health governance

Private sector responsibility

Keh said he believes that promoting public health and welfare is a key part of the responsibility of the private sector.

He added that because the government has very limited resources, it should have partners in helping local health centers and local officials provide quality health services for the people.

“In the end ang ultimate na makikinabang kasi kung maganda ang kalusugan (ng mga tao), ‘yong private sector ‘di ba? Kasi you have better workers, you have a quality labor force. So in the end dapat talaga tumutulong ‘yong private sector,” he added.

(In the end, the ultimate beneficiary of good health for the people is the private sector. If you have better workers, you have a quality labor force. So the private sector should help.)

Keh noted that a labor force weakened by health problems would not help the country’s economy as well.

The five winners were awarded grants worth P100,000, which Keh said was sponsored by MSD. But he said the CHG’s achievement is recognizing the good programs of the LGUs.
He said MSD and Kaya Natin were the co-organizers of the program, so they provided the funds.

“Maliit lang ‘yan actually, sa totoo lang. I think mas mahalaga ‘yong prestige na nanalo sila, and ‘yong prestige that they were honored (It’s just a small amount. But what is more important is the prestige that they won and that they were honored),” he ended. (Editor: Eden Estopace)