Speaker Martin Romualdez (INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has assured the public that the House of Representatives would look for — and eventually allocate funds — for the newly signed Regional Specialty Centers Act.
Romualdez, in a statement on Wednesday said that they will ensure that Republic Act No. 11959 will have funds for that purpose, as they are not certain if allocations for this law were inserted in the National Expenditures Program (NEP) for 2024.
The NEP was prepared as early as the first quarter of 2023, while R.A. No. 11959 was only signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last week.
The House committee on appropriations is currently discussing the per-agency proposed budget for 2024.
“In any case, we in the House will ensure that the necessary initial appropriations are allocated for the implementation of the law and the setting up, equipping and staffing of the special medical care units in regional hospitals,” Romualdez said.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the signing of the law is “part of the administration’s efforts to establish and institutionalize healthcare centers in the region.”
Under the Regional Specialty Centers Act, the following specialty care will be prioritized:
- Cancer care
- Cardiovascular care
- Lung care
- Renal care
- Kidney transplant
- Brain and spine care
- Trauma care
- Burn care
- Orthopedic care
- Physical rehabilitation medicine
- Infectious disease and tropical medicine
- Toxicology
- Mental health
- Geriatric care
- Neonatal care
- Dermatology
- Eye care
- Ear, nose, and throat care
“Once these special care facilities are established, people in the provinces, in rural areas, no longer need to travel to Metro Manila to receive specialized treatment and care. They will be spending less for transportation and other related costs. We are bringing the centers closer to our people,” Romualdez said. (With reports from Harold Hernandez, trainee)