Zubiri to Pimentel: Show accomplishments first before criticizing

Juan Miguel Zubiri and Aquilino Pimentel III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has challenged Senator Aquilino ‘’Koko’’ Pimentel III to show first his accomplishments as a senator before criticizing his program on Universal Health Care.

During a campaign sortie by Liberal Party candidates in Sultan Kudarat on Tuesday, Pimentel asked Zubiri to explain his ‘’free-for-all’’ health care program, claiming it was ‘’too good to be true.’’

In a statement issued Tuesday night, Zubiri said the “No Balance Billing Program” under the Provincial Indigency Health Program of the Province of Bukidnon is already being implemented for more than 10 years by the province.

‘‘If only the senator is courageous enough to visit our province and ask the people who had benefited from the program, he will understand how it is being implemented. The problem with Senator Pimentel is he is afraid to visit Bukidnon,’’ Zubiri said.

Zubiri said this particular program has been proven effective in Bukidnon.

‘‘In fact, to date there are 189,000 families enrolled in the said program. Likewise, we have 19 municipal primary health centers providing primary health care, and three tertiary hospitals with bed capacity of 150-200 each located in Manolo Fortich, Malaybalay City and Maramag. We are even the first province to implement the said program.

“I am not playing cute when I tell this in our sorties. I am just telling the people of what we have accomplished and that it is not impossible to be replicated all over the country. Is that playing cute?” Zubiri asked.

Zubiri then challenged Pimentel: “As a Senator and Chairman of the Electoral Reforms Committee, what have you done? What have you accomplished? What bills have you sponsored in the Senate Plenary? Isn’t that what you should be reporting to the people?

‘‘Why do you have to question a good program that has already been proven effective in Bukidnon, even in Makati City. If we can do this for the whole country, I will not hesitate to sponsor a bill on this program so that it can be discussed in Congress and deliberate if it can be implemented throughout the country. Let Congress decide its merits. Don’t just shoot-down an idea out of the box if this will benefit millions of our kababayans,” added Zubiri.

“Now, who is playing cute here?”