8 solons vow to block bill turning gov’t hospitals into GOCCs

DAVAO CITY—At least eight militant lawmakers formed what they said was a coalition to block the passage of a bill that would convert at least 26 public hospitals into government-owned and -controlled corporations.

Calling their group Makabayan Coalition, the lawmakers said the bill would deprive the country’s poor of access to free health services.

Rep. Teddy Casiño, of Bayan Muna, said House Bill No. 6069 was simply “anti-poor.”

Health Secretary Enrique Ona had expressed support for the bill saying it would make the hospitals efficient.

Among the hospitals covered by the bill are Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Veterans Regional Hospital, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Medical Center, Bicol Medical Center (Naga City), Bicol Research Training and Teaching Hospital (Legazpi City), Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Western Visayas Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Zamboanga City Medical Center, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Caraga Regional Hospital and Davao Regional Hospital.

Turning these hospitals into GOCCs, “would deprive poor women and children of free health services,” said Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan.

She said the Makabayan Coalition—Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Confederation and Unity for Reform and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage), Migrante, Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Katribu—will fight the bill. Judy Quiros, Inquirer Mindanao