Senator Risa Hontiveros, who won during the 2016 elections after two failed attempts to bag a Senate seat, was INQ&A’s special guest last September 6.
During the hour-long interview, the senator talked about her legislative priorities and her suggestion to use a public health framework to address the country’s drug problem.
INQ&A is a weekly talk show hosted by INQUIRER.net Editor in Chief John Nery and Chief of Reporters Kristine Sabillo.
It is broadcast live every Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m. over Radyo Inquirer 990AM, INQ 990 Television and INQUIRER.net’s Facebook account.
Below is the full transcript of the interview with Hontiveros.
Kristine Sabillo, INQUIRER.net Chief of Reporters: Good evening and welcome to INQ&A, the Inquirer question and answer program that comes to you every Tuesday. We are in Radyo Inquirer, live on Facebook, live on digital television and on periscope. We’ve had revealing interviews with the leading newspapers and tonight, we have another special guest. This is Kristine Sabillo, chief of reporters of Inquirer.net and with me is John Nery, editor-in-chief of the Inquirer.net
John Nery, INQUIRER.net Editor in Chief: Good evening Tine and we do have a special guest. It is my happy task to introduce her in a very INQ&A way. Three things you might not know about our special guest. First, she runs a credit card-less household. Second, she is a scuba diver. Third, and this might be surprising to you, she is in fact, good friends with PNP Director General Bato Dela Rosa because Bato was her late husband’s mista in the Philippine Military Academy. Ladies and gentlemen, Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
Senator Risa Hontiveros: Hi John. Magandang gabi, Tine and to all the viewers of INQ&A.
Nery: Thank you senator. So let’s go straight to the topic. Senator we would like to talk about your first privilege speech, why did you decide to talk about drugs as a public health issue?
Hontiveros: Well, my whole platform in the past several years was really universal health care, having worked on several health bills like Cheaper Medicines Law, Reproductive Health Law and also over two years on the board of PhilHealth. So, noong tumindi itong war on drugs and the deaths kept piling up, you have your own kill list sa Inquirer, sabi ko there’s a broad way of looking at this na mas epektibo at mas makatao at hindi lang mas may pagtingin sa human rights and due process but will actually enable our law enforcement authorities to achieve their law enforcement objectives pero ito nga yung pagtingin sa drugs problem natin thorugh the public health lens at pag-consider na gamiting din natin yung mga harm-reduction strategies that are not just a concept, ginagamit na sila in about 90 countries around the world.
Harm-reduction strategies, meaning yung mga pamamaraan ng pag-address sa drug problem that seek to reduce the harm, yung damage done both to the drug dependent or abuser, sa pamilya niya, sa komunidad niya. Amazing yung nangyayari dito sa 90 countries around the world, Thailand against two countries in Latin America, kumbaga the continent of the cartel. Countries in Europe like the Netherlands and Portugal practice the model and certain states in the US, bumababa yung incidents ng drug dependence, there’s a lesser number of young people na pumapasok sa substance abuse and this should interest also our PNP and AFP.
Doon sa mga lugar na ‘yun, they even document less violence against the police. So nakakamit yung law enforcement objectives and at lesser social cost sa mga tao at komunidad at yun na nga, mas nae-enable yung public health. Access din kahit na mga substance abusers at drug dependents sa health services to avoid getting sick also sa HIV AIDS, sa ibang STDs, sa Hepa C, sa Tuberculosis, etc.
Sabillo: Senator when you say public health lens or taking the public health framework, what does that involve? What are the actions involved? Just to make it more concrete for the people.
Public health lens, ibig sabihin, if we have this vision of a universal health care system, that’s been drawn to us clearly na may anim na pillars or building blocks yan. Ang isang universal health care system would be built out of advances in the health human resources, yung ating mga doctors, nurses, midwives at BHWs, mas equipped ba sila to look at drug dependents as a medical condition na kailangan ding gamutin ng mga psychiatrist natin na specialists in addiction.
‘Yung universal health care system matatayo rin through health legislation. So policies. Halimbawa kung sa Thailand noon, they also waged this very hard-nosed war against drugs, nag-dalawang isip sila noon. Ngayon, by policy, they are recognizing harm reduction is an approach that better serves both health and law enforcement needs. Universal health care system, a public health lens, by looking at the service delivery network, ‘yung mga facilities. Mula barangay health stations and rural health units hanggang sa tertiary hospitals natin. Kumbaga the facilities where we can deliver yung mga medical services even to drug abusers, whether preventive, health or hanggang sa rehab – that side of the spectrum. Rehabilitation sa mga drug abusers. And there are three others, one is governance.
Sa bansa natin that’s DOH we’re going into budget debates now sinasabi ng DOH doon sa item nila na HFEP or Health Facilities Enhancement Program, they’re going to build more rehab centers. And DOH kasi nakaupo sa DDB (Dangerous Drugs Board). DDB is also saying na sa kanilang budget there’s a special fund that’s part on that. 25% dapat sa rehab ng mga drug dependents. So pwede pang pagtulungan nitong dalawang department na ito on the governance side. There are two others, health education. Ngayon pa lang sa Dangerous Drugs Act, mayroon nang provision doon on preventive education and I don’t think it’s been maximized talaga. Sixth yung Health Financing and Insurance, yung PhilHealth. Ipinanukala na pwede daw bang gamitin ang PhilHealth Benefits Packages to cover the expenses of rehab. May initial feedback ang PhilHealth na baka hindi kaya ng pera nila sa ngayon but at least the question has been raised: We need to find money to fund kahit yung rehabilitation.
Nery: I’d like to ask, if I’m not mistaken, your privilege speech was the first in the Senate of the 17th Congress and in the day after, Senator Leila De Lima also had her privilege speech also on the war on drugs. We all know there’s a pushback against her, were there pushbacks against you after your privilege speech?
Hontiveros: Nararamdaman ko rin yun. Pati sa social media. Pero ganyan ang social media e, isa siyang democratic space. Although I really wish there was more accountability doon but of course it has to come from our own self-regulation, tayong mga netizens.
Nery: So there was criticism. But did you hear from the administration?
Hontiveros: Not directly from them, at yung isang kagandahan naman, even before I delivered my speech, nakapag-courtesy call ako kina Sec. Paulyn Ubial, nagbukas kami ng magandang diskusyion. Sabi ko sa kanya, can we explore kung anong department yung priorities niyo year-on-year, from now until 2022? Paano ko kayo masusuportahan from the legislative side, paano ko rin kayo masusuportahan sa budget, debate side. In fact sa unang araw ko sa study visit sa Bangkok, andoon din yung counterpart ko sa House, si House Health Committee Chair Tan. So nag-quick initial getting to know you din kami at sabi ko nga baka pwede nating pagtulungan at suportahan ang trabaho ng DOH.
Nery: What was the purpose of your trip to Thailand last week?
Hontiveros: It was mainly to study two things: The universal health care system ng Thailand na siyang pinakamalapit na modelo ng UHC na masulong dito sa ating bansa kasi kumbaga siya yung best practice sa Asia sa ngayon at pangalawa, dumaan nga rin sila sa matinding war on drugs in the year 2003. Grabe, very, very similar yung characteristics niya at ngayon, sila naman ay pasulong sa public health response to the drug problem at harm reduction din sa usapin ng rehabilitation.
Nery: What happened in 2003? At that time the prime minister was Thaksin Shinawatra and they declared also a war on drugs.
Hontiveros: Sabi noong mga nakausap naming mga civil society advocates, mga doktor, mga judge, very interesting sets of people na mga insider din sa mga anti-drug campaign noon. So they saw things up close and personal at may insider’s view din sila. Sabi nila, yung ginawa namin, parang yun na ang ginagawa niyo sa Pilipinas. Mayroon na talaga declaration on the war on drugs, mayroong very short time frame na pinatong ng gobyerno nila sa sarili nila. Tayo, ang sabi sa atin six months, sila, ang sabi three months. Tapos may very assertive demand on law enforcement authorities ang mga tie police officers were required to produce a certain number of “surrender-ees,” arrestees doon sa kanilang parang quota. Mayroon silang rewards and punishment system, promotion based sa kung ano mang naging punishments nila. That sounds familiar. Yung pushbacks din nila against internation criticsm na sabi ni former Prime Minister Shinawatra noong nagpuna yung UN, “The UN is not my father.” Very allergic sa mga puna ng ibang mga bansa. And more than 2000 deaths in a span of three months na in the following administration, they did an investigation and an assessment on the war on drugs at nalaman nila na kalahati daw nang napatay ay wala raw kinalaman sa droga. Yung mga words that we use now, yung mga human rights at due process, ginamit nila in assessing na very high cost daw ang kanilang war on drugs so now, they are trying a different approach na mas may pagtingin doon sa health at harm reduction.
Sabillo: How many months was that before they stopped doing it?
Hontiveros: Sabi nila brief period of three months pero all those effects came out and at a certain point, the former administration declared a success but the following administration had a different assessment and is now a different approach. I think there a lot of good lessons that we can learn from the Thai experience.
Nery: Maybe we should have more officials go to Bangkok.
Hontiveros: Rather than Colombia, pumalpak ang kanilang war on drugs kasi solely law enforcement perspective. Kailangan natin yung law enforcement for sure pero kung yun lang, mukhang ganoon ang magiging epekto. Pero kung ikakambal mo doon yung public health at harm reduction, mukhang mas nagpo-produce yan ng better results and documented yan in 90 countries all over the world.
Nery: Senator, yung sa universal health care naman, what did you find in Bangkok?
Hontiveros: Exciting ang Thai model. Syempre yung una kong tanong sa kanila is more on legislation and yung version nila ng PhilHealth kasi yun yung naranasan ko sa trabaho ko rito so yun na nga, they’re moving into policy pronouncement about harm reduction and then ang lakas lakas ng kanilang health financing system. Nagdeklara na sila ng universal enrollment saying na practically 100% ng Thai citizens ay covered ng one form of health insurance or another. Tatlong grupo yan, yung kanilang public sector ay covered ng government subsidy sa kanilang premium, mayroong mga private sectors sila who pay their own contribution and at a certain point, sabi nila, lahat ng hindi pa covered nitong public health insurance, babayaran na rin ng gobyerno so everybody is covered by health insurance at doon sa kanilang mga ospital, yung mga service delivery nila at facilities, very high quality of health care at world-class. Lalo na sa public government hospitals nila.
Nery: What do you think is key? How did they get to that point?
Hontiveros: I think yung policy commitment ng gobyerno nila atsaka yung capacity. They have enough money and they are willing to spend it in the right way at grabe rin yung buy-in ng mga mamamayan nila. Sabi ng mga Thai, when they did yung third part ng insurance nila, ang ginawi nila is in the first year, they paid for everybody’s premium. Tapos na-utilize kaagad, na-enjoy ng mga tao yung mga benepisyo and the following year, those who were still paying their own contribution, tuloy tuloy yung pagbayad. They were encouraged by these outcomes, by anticipation and presumed na better yung health outcomes ng mga gumagamit ng health services na parang it is a good way to spend our taxpayers’ money or yung sweldo natin so tuluy-tuloy lang. Sustainable siya, parang yung pinapangarap natin sa PhilHealth natin in the long run.
Nery: We have question from Neil De Lena from FB: Please elaborate your idea about how to empower and strengthen barangay health workers.
Hontiveros: Yung BHWs, sila yung I think backbone ng ating health human resources. By some accounts, about a million dito sa PIlipinas at sa maraming doctor-less at underserved ng barangays lalo na yung mga tinatawag na GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas) sila talaga yung frontline health service providers. In fact one of the first bills I filed, nitong 70th Congress ay para itaas ang kanilang compensation. Ngayon kasi nagre-rely lang sila sa allowances mula sa kanilang barangay at syempre depende yun sa capacity to pay ng mga barangay so proposal ko, itaas siya sa 6000 php a month at magkaroon ng mga social protection din. Sila rin dapat may automatic PhilHealth membership, yung free hospital sa mga beteranong BHW at pagabot nila sa legislated retirement age, pension at benefits din.
Sabillo: Another question from Facebook: Can you tell us a solid plan on how to achieve peace and order? Eliminate corruption.
With all the comments on President Duterte, can you tell us a concrete plan on how to achieve peace and order, eliminate corruption and fight ASG.
Hontiveros: Sige. Isa-isa. Peace and order, naniniwala ako sa security sector reform tsaka personally-invested ako sa patuloy na pag-professionalize at civilianize ng PNP kasi I was married to a PNP officer who cared for the institution also. So yung patuloy na pagsuporta sa PNP, kahit na sa ganitong challenging situations, mayroon silang magandang manual of operations based sa UN protocols on the use of firearms. So importante sa akin na magpatuloy yung mga initial efforts nilang PNP, transformation programs, etc. and under the current leadership under PNP Chief Dela Rosa.
The Abu Sayyaf Group, related yan sa peace and order, kasi hindi naman sila isang grupo na magiging bukas sa peace talks sa gobyerno natin. Lalo na kung sila’y mapatunayan sa imbestigasyon na may kagagawan sila sa Davao bombing, then the full force of the law should be applied to arrest them and bring them to justice. Bigyan ng hustisya yung mga namatay at nasugatan nating kababayan sa Davao na habang ginagawa yan, tuloy yung peace processes ng gobyerno sa MILF at National Democratic Front. Yung mga ibang armadong grupo na bukas sa peace processes ng gobyerno. Then corruption, kailangan ituloy na yung mga efforts of the past several years kasi anti-corruption kasama yung transparency and accountability so continuous repair ng mga institusyon lalo na yung may watchdog function sa usapin ng public like Ombudsman, Sandiganbayan, COA and then hindi lang sa gobyerno dapat yung anti-corruption efforts. Tuloy yung anti-corruption efforts sa private sector at sa civil society. Halimbawa, sa private sector mayroon silang tinatawag na integrity initiative sa iba’t ibang business organizations and sa civil society. And I’m sure hindi ito bago sa administrasyon. Alam nila yung mga namana nila from previous administrations, they are envisioning the future to us. I share some of those.
Nery: Speaking of the current administration, how would you characterize its relationship with your fellow newbie senator, Senator Leila De Lima.
Hontiveros: Well medyo mabigat, hindi masyadong nagiging positive yung engagement sa kanya so I’m really hoping na sa mga susunod na araw, magkakaroon ng kalinawan kung mayroong ihaharap na pormal na reklamo at ebidensya. At least masort yung facts from rhetoric, yung atmosphere na sa tingin ko ay mas fair yun hindi lang kay Sen. Leila pero sa mga mamamayan natin na sa tingin ko ay nabo-bombard din sa atmosphere. Hindi siya masyadong positive ngayon so I hope ma-improve pa yan.
Sabillo: Senator you’re a member of the Ethics Committee. Have you ever tackled the issue? Because the Senate President also mentioned that if there will be someone who’ll raise the issue of Senator Leila De Lima with the Ethics Committee, how would you go about that?
Hontiveros: Well in fact, naka-receive na kami ng isang complaint nga lang hindi ako makapagsalita pa about it kasi hindi kami authorized. Si committee chair Tito Sotto lang ang authorized sa amin na magsalia about the complaint pero we’ve taken the jurisdiction of it already.
Nery: how many members of you? Were there five of you?
Hontiveros: No. Higit pa. Apat lang kaming nakadalo sa unang pulong but I believe we’re at least nine if I’m not mistaken.
Nery: So we have another question from Facebook. As a sociologist, what is the best solution in your view para ibsan ang cultural gap ng ethnic Southern Philippines, particularly Mindanao, sa highly-urbanized Northern Philippines, particularly, Metro Manila.
Hontiveros: Yung buong realidad ng mga indigenous peoples dito sa ating bansa. Siyempre ang pinakamalaking realidad ay yung sa Bangsamoro, pero speaking of the Northern Philippines, there’s the Cordilleras. May distinct na ethno-linguistic identity sila, may distinct na kasaysayan din, may distinct na parte rin sa ancestral domain. Like the Cordilleras, like the Bangsamoro, we’ll talk about things since time immemorial. Kaya sila rin ay may interes sa usapin ng Bangsamoro na I hope will still take flight sa Mindanao. From that distinct historical starting point. But aside from them, ang dami pang indigenous peoples. Yung mga Lumad sa Mindanao and other IPs all over the country, maraming entry points for achieving greater integration while recognizing yung distinctiveness nila. Sabi ni asker na as a sociologist, so syempre yung mga institutions natin tulad ng educational system, importanteng meeting point yan sa ating Bangsamoro. Paano natin i-integrate yung kanilang Madrasa sa public education system natin? Ang Madrasa ba pwedeng sumabay dun sa entry forms natin tulad ng K to 12 o yung pagsasaayos natin ng tertiary education? Ano yung proper na meeting points or distinct spaces din dyan. Yung idea ng Islamic banking na magpapautang ang institusyon sa mga nangangailangan nang walang interes. For me that’s one of the most exciting things we can learn from them sa pagtingin na ano yung development paradigm dapat natin when we critique the model of globalization ngayon na neoliberal. Ano yung alternative model natin or elements of alternative model? Isa ba yun? Yung ganyang klaseng modelo ng interest-less loans tulad sa ilalim ng Madrasa. Yung family life ng mga pamilya living under Shariah, under the Muslim Civil Code. How does that give us discussion points between Bangsamoro families and mga tulad natin na mga lowland, mainstream kuno, colonized na mga Pilipino. So may mga distinct differences n asana ma-appreciate natin.
Nery: Would we narrow this cultural gap if the President were to spend more in Davao?
Hontiveros: Siguro if I were a Mindanaoan, immediately I would say yes. Saka refreshing talaga to shift the center of the country sa ibang lugar. Kumbaga imperial Davao rin yan sa ibang Mindanaoan. But to recognize many centers, but I think dahil presidente siya ng buong Pilipinas, there’s something to be said for him spending time in Manila kung nasaan yung mga national government centers. But I like this idea na kunware sa mga tertiary hospitals, dapat hindi lahat nakasentro ditto sa Manila.
Nery: Is there a role that the health system can play?
Hontiveros: Maganda rin yung kasi lahat ng IPs hindi lang yung Bangsamoro, hindi lang Cordillera, hindi lang yung Lumads. Ito kilala ng PITAC, isang attached agency ng DOH, mayroong din tayong indigenous ways of healing. Indigenous ways of preserving health at marami don at napreserve ng ating mga katutubong Filipino and they are compatible in many ways in so-called Western ways of health. So isa yon, aside from education and family life, definitely yung health ay isang arena pwedeng magkaroon ng peaceful encoutners between people of the Philippines.
Nery: If I’m not mistaken Martin Andanar has a plan to put up an all-Muslim, all-Lumad TV channel. Is that something the Senate can support?
Hontiveros: Definitely and alam mo I;m sure I’m not the only one excited about this idea. Actually matagal na yung proposal ng public broadcasting sa Pilipinas. Si Professor Elizabeth Marcelino of UP DIliman has long developed ideas about this and I believe have taught this on her classes. Yung matagal na nating PTV4, narrow band lang yan ng public broadcasting e, yung state broadcasting. Mayroon talagana mga community journalists and communities as subscribers. May representation sa mga board para makapag-input sa broadcasting para makapag-support ng sariling broadcasting system. I heard, mayroon na daw public radio network somewhere in Indonesia. So much closer to home. So sinsabi ni Sec. Andanar na Muslim network, Lumad network, Bangsamoro network, that would be great.
Nery: That’s the one the Indonesians used to call the singing trees. Speaking of the UK and the BBC, we have viewers from the United Kingdom.
Hontiveros: Hi magandang gabi po mga kababayan.
Nery: We’re gonna take a commercial break, this is INQ&A with Risa Hontiveros, we’ll be back shortly.
Sabillo: Thank you Senator Risa Hontiveros for the very insightful discussion we’ve had about drugs and public heatlh. We have another question from social media: How can you contribute as a senator in rehabilitating drugs addicts and pushers who surrendered?
Hontiveros: Timing na timing yung tanong niyo kasi nagsisimula na yung budget debates sa senado and particulary lbabantayan ko yung bufget ng DOH para siguraduhin sana na yung priorities ng department ngayon ay mapondohan and one of these gaya ng nabanggit ko kanina, under ng HFEP, ay yung pagtatayo ng rehab centers. Swak din yon sa funds ng DDB, nakalagay doon ay dapat 25% non ay para sa rehab ng mga drug addicts at mga nag-surrender for rehab so isa lnag ito sa mga konkretong isusulong ko at hihingan ng suporta ng ibang mga senador na masigurong mapondohan ng sapat sa budget for 2017.
Sabillo: Senator I’m curious about the DOH budget. I heard that they were calling for a higher budget. They wanted to follow the Cuba model as suggested by President Duterte. What exactly is the Cuba model and do you think it’s feasible?
Hontiveros: Di ako surprise na may ganoong panawagan si President Duterte and particularly si Sec. Paulyn kasi matagal nang gold standard ang Cuba sa public health system sa buong mundo. And imagine such a small country na ang tagal in-embargo pero ang lakas ng kanilang education and training program. They have been able to educate doctors from many other countries, even from the West. Tapos dumalaw nga doon recently si Sec. Paulyn and I’m very excited to hear what her recommendations would be but initially sinabi niya nang we would need 65 Million php to set up a health system like the Cuban tsaka 35,000 doctors. I’m sure nman na hindi iniisip yun ni Sec. Paulyn na magawa agad yan pero kung pagpaplanuhan natin yan, isagawa yan step by step over the next six years. So every budget debate, pwedeng tignan, how much of those 65 Miliion php ay pwedeng masiguro sa budget ng department, yung 35,000 doctors, kausapin natin. Yung mga human resources at medical students natin, I was in a forum recently sa CEU and pinaguusapan namin itong public health at harm reduction approach sa drugs problem. Nakakatuwa kasi ay medical student na nagtanong: Kami ba na mga majoring in psych, some of us specialize in addiction, pwede ba kmaing tumulong? Kaya I’m asking for a meeting soon with Sec. Paulyn to coordinate on the Zika virus situation namna. You know Sec. may mga medical students na gustong tumulong sa department.
Nery: This is one of the first questions we gathered. What is really your purpose to be a senator?
Hontiveros: It is to contribute to making laws, inquiring into burning issues, passing good budgets year on year para maitaguyod ang isang universal health system. Pangarap ko sana na by 2022 , kung hindi man natin masasabi na may UHC system na tayo, we can say na on each of the six pillars ng universal health, nakausad na tayo by this much. Sana masabi natin by 2022 na 60% along the way na tayo sa pagtaguyod ng UHC system. I’m also chairing pala the senate committee on women so tuluy-tuloy na pagsulong ng gender sensitivity at gender justice. Yung priority measure ngayon ay yung anti-discrimination bill para sa ating mga kababayang LGBT. Buhay ko bilang aktibista na naging legislator ako ngayon.
Nery: Why do you keep on being a feminist when all women are now equal to the opposite sex?
Hontiveros: Salamat kung iyan ang pagtingin mo sa amin. Pero we still need more of your kabaro and I think what I call a natural feminist. Lumaki ako sa angkan na karamihan sa amin ay maiingay. I was a shy little girl. Pero may mood kami sa angkan na tahimik ka man o maingay o shy ng Hontiveros, Malaya ka magsalita. But I also grew up seeing na kahit may mga katulad mo na pantay ang tingin sa aming mga babae, hindi parin talaga sa marami. At saka institutionalized sa aitin lipunan. May mga discrimination pa rin against women in terms of access sa edukasyon. Women have 75 cents sa bawat piso na tinatanggap niyo sa sahod sa ekonomiya. And that’s just for employees wala pa dyan yun access sa credit kung entrepreneurs kami, wala pa dun yung protection sa mga babae kung nasa informal sector kami at malawak yung hanay sa social protections. Sa maternity leave, yung mga discriminatory practices na last hired-first fired, dati sa mga pabrika ang daming mga horror stories na mga laid-off. And we’re not even talking about home-based women na hindi kinukwenta ang ginagawa inila sa GDP natin. Pagdating nila sa legislated retirement age, wala silang pension despite the fact na they work on their lives. Home-based work ang pinakamahirap na trabaho. And lalo yung solo moms. I guess that’s why I keep on being a feminist.
Nery: The second follow-up has to do with your being an aktibista. We get a lot of comments. Were you six years old when you were an activist?
Hontiveros: Lately ko na lang nalaman, some of my friends told me, may nagbago daw ng biography ko sa Wikipedia. I was born in 1966 e, ginawa nilang born in 1976. Thank you ha ginawa niyo akong 40 years old kahit golden girl na ako. So sa totoo lang, in 1981, I was 15, sophomore high school. Nagging aktibista ako noon sa issue ng Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, sa issue ng US Naval bases ditto, yun sa energy.
Sabillo: What is your response to people na you use your position in PhilHealth to get more coverage for the elections?
Hontiveros: Well no, I didn’t. I think in-appoint ako noon sa tingin ko kasi alam ni President Noy yung advocacy ko sa universal health care. Doon niya ako inilagay bilang board member at nakapagtrabaho naman ako pati sa information campaign ng PhilHealth. At that time, 92% yung enrollment rate natin sa PhilHealth. Medyo mababa ang utilization sa benefit packages, mga 11-12% lang. So yung corporate affairs office namin noon sa PhilHealth asked as members na maging bahagi ng public information campaign lalo na nga doon sa mga GIDA areas. At noong inimbita ako na tumakbo ulit para sa senado, nagpaalam naman ako sa then PhilHealth CEO namin and pumayag naman siya so I resigned before filing my COC. So walang paggamit ng PhilHealth position in the sense of the question.
Sabillo: How will you response to groups that don’t agree with PhilHealth and the privatization of hospitals? How will you explain the issue to them and how will you encourage them support the government?
Hontiveros: Well yung PhilHealth I think even a several years back ay nasa isang path of reforms and I was very glad over those two years na maging bahagi pa ng ilang reforms ng PhilHealth and feeling kop ag tinuloy nila yan, they will be sustainable in the long term. Maaachieve nila yung universal enrollment, mapapaganda nila yung benefit packages nila, they will be able to educate all the members kung paano ma-access yung mga benepisyong iyon. Yung privatization of public hospitals or yung tinatawag na corporatization, I oppose that. I think i-reserve pa nga dapat ng gobyerno ang lost grounds nya sa public health sector. Sa ngayon, 60% ng mga ospital natin ay private. We don’t need further privatization, kailangan yung public character ng mga government hospitals natin ay mapreserve yan kung ang layunin nung so called corporatization ay maprofessionalize yung management ng mga ospital. There are other ways to do that while retaining the public character. Gobyerno pa rin ang mayari niyan, gobyerno pa rin ang magpapatakbo, kung gusto ng hospital board, edi mag-hire sila ng professional manager from the private sector. O kaya kung maganda ang relasyon nila sa health body ng LGU, edi i-maximize ng mga ospital yung relasyon nila sa local special body na yun. Importanteng manatiling public ang government hospitals para yung karamihan ng mga mamamayan na mahihirap pa ay may access sa dekalidad na health service. Now, we continue to work on the quality of care but not the solution is not to publicize.
Nery: We have viewers from Davao
Hontiveros: Maayong gabii. Again my condolences sa mga namatayan at nasugatan. I’d like to echo the words of Sara Duterte that yes, you will stand up now. Lahat ng kababayan ninyo outside Davao ay nakikiramay sa inyo.
Nery: We have a question from Facebook. Besides health, what are your other priorities?
Hontiveros: Gaya ng nabanggit ko, sinusulong ko rin yung anti-discri bill para sa ating mga kababayang LGBT. Ito naman po ay under sa Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality. So beyond that, yung buong range ng social protection. Yung pagsasaayos po ng pension systems natin, yung pagsasaayos ng PhilHealth. Yung health financing aspect ng universal health care. Yung security of tenure para sa ating mga empleyado, yung patuloy na pagsasaayos ng batas para sa ating mga informal settlers, lalo na yung mga urban poor. Climate change adaptation and mitigation, lalo na kasama ang mga basic sectors natin.
Nery: Speaking of a divorce law, what’s the dynamics like in the Senate? Do you think there’s a chance in the Senate?
Hontiveros: Wala pang formally nagsisimula diyan. Informal conversations lang. Parang nagpapakiramdaman lang. Tulad kasi sa House mayroon silang divorce bill doon, dito din ba sa Senate. Pero wala pang actual na nagsisimula na mag-draft. Pero ako at the very least, I feel we should start the conversations about the issue of divorce. Alam natin na marami tayong kababayan, lalo na mga babae, ang trapped in abusive marriages and they want out. They want to have another chance in life, happiness, love, family life. So pakinggan natin yung boses ng mga tao sa public issues like that.
Nery: What about the prospects in the Senate of abortion law?
Hontiveros: Walang nagsasalita tungkol diyan. Klarong the state of the policy, the legislation is that abortion remains a crime under the revised penal code. Ang importante sa mga babae, in terms of our reproductive health, is yung full implementation ng reproductive health law that talks about family planning. The age appropriate for sexual reproduction and education ng mga kabataan. Talks about pagsuporta sa mga couples to achieve a decent quality of life through family planning.
Nery: Can you give us an idea on what the Senate is doing? It’s not all about EJKs right?
Hontiveros: Ang dami-daming komite na nag-convene na at nag-organizational meeting na. Aktwal na nagta-tackle na ng mga bills na naka-refer sa amin. Anti-hospital deposit law amendments sa committee on health. So gusto naming dagdagan ang parusa ng mga magtataboy ng mga indigent emergency patients dahil dinedemand sila ng deposits. Gusto naming bigyan ng tax incentives yung mga ospital na magco-comply naman. Yung anti-discrimination bill sa committee on women, yung isang committee naman on housing informal settlers dumidinig na rin tungkol sa mga socialized housing programs at mga on-site relocations. At ngayon nga nagsisimula na ang budget debates, dodoble na siguro ang bilang ng mga committee hearings kasi sinisimulan na rin naming dinigin yung mga proposed budgets. Una yung macro, pero nagsisimula na rin yung mga individual departments. Today yung DDB, yung Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, bukas yung Office of the Vice President at mga housing committees. So andami daming trabaho so siguro ganun na rin sa House.
Sabillo: Now that you’re in the Senate, how different is it when you were in the House of Representatives?
Hontiveros: I used to say when I was working in the House na kapag nakapagtrabaho ako sa Senado, hindi siya kasing interesting sa House. Simply because mas maraming tao sa House. Just like in any ecosystem, mas maraming permutations na pwedeng buuin, yung Senate mas maliit. So ngayon ang pakiramdam ko na nagtatrabaho sa Senate, slightly familiar pero slightly iba rin. I’m just really glad to be back to legislative work, sobrang enjoy ko siya and well these are interesting times.
Nery: Let’s talk about the hearings. Is there something important that’s happening in the Senate that we’re missing out on kasi we are focused on the budget hearings and the extra-judicial killings and so on. Anything major that is not appearing on the radar screen of news organizations?
Hontiveros: I think the main business of the Senate, yun yung nakikita niyo. Yung pagdinig, even about the burning issues. The senate has not been shy or afraid to tackle those at ito nga sa budget na actually isa sa mga pinakaimportanteng batas na kailangan namin mai-produce year on year. Medyo what you see is what you get naman sa Senate, I think ah. Ano ba yung tinutukoy mo?
Nery: We just want to know if we are missing things because we are focused on the more spectacular stuff.
Hontiveros: The spectacular stuff is really the concern namin. We talk about it even during the suspension of sessions.
Nery: From the public health perspective, is there in fact a drug crisis?
Hontiveros: That is for me a very important question kasi tingin ko oo, problema yung illegal drugs but I think the most important, yung pinakamalalim na problema ay kahirapan pa rin. Brought up pa rin naman yun kahit sa mga surveys before and after election day. Sa kahirapan nakaugat ang problema natin sa droga. Kahirapan ang isa sa entry point natin para tugunan at resolbahin ang problema natin sa droga. Medyo na switch ata yung positioning ng mga issues sa isa’t isa. I think poverty and equality, yun pa rin ang pinakamatinding problema para sa akin.
In terms of numbers, I think DDB has an estimate of 1.2 or 1.6 million? The President is talking about a PDEA number that’s 3 million. Now the estimate is 3.7 million, is there a solid number?
In fact, doon sa mga materyales na I’ve been studying para sa budget debates, earlier 2016, ang DDB percentage was 32% ng ating mga barangay ang drugs-affected. Bad enough di ba? Pero para sabihin na mas malaki pa dyan, I think kailangan, in terms of addressing the problem, kailangan i-validate natin yan scientifically. Tsaka one drug-dependent is not the same with another. Sana matanong natin yung mga doktor lalo na yung mga psychiatrist, lalo na yung nagse-specialize sa addiction kasi kinaclassify pala nila yung dependents. Meron silang nagsisimula palang, occasional at sumeseryoso na ng addiction. For each protocols pala ang rehabilitation nila. Sabi pa nung iba, from country to country, ang average, only 1 out of 10 drug abusers ang potentially magiging problema sa sarili niya o sa ibang tao, yung magko-commit ng violent na krimen. So sa ganoong sitwasyon, kung tama rin yun sa ating sitwasyon sa Pilipinas, ibig sabihin yung hard law enforcement response would probably be called upon sa 10 percent ng mga sitwasyon. Pero baka mas may balanse o mas mabigat na timbang pa doon sa medical approach o yung public health at harm reduction.
So it’s possible that we have a better overview of the problem through the budget hearing. They would have to defend the items in their proposals
And hopefully be open sa mga mungkahi ng mga legislators. How, policy-wise, might this money be better spent. Within the set amount na. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng dagdagan yan.
Sabillo: It’s time for our game. We have four minutes left, but I think that’s enough. So the title of the game is “the good, the bad and the maybe.” I’m basically just going to give you an issue and you will just say if it’s a good idea or a bad idea. You can also say maybe but only once.
Sabillo: The first is Duterte rhetoric against Obama?
Hontiveros: Sorry. Bad idea.
Sabillo: All-out war against Abu Sayyaf?
Hontiveros: Good basta under international humanitarian law.
Sabillo: Left in government?
Hontiveros: Good, basta seryoso sa governance.
Sabillo: Philippine government-CPP peace talks?
Hontiveros: Good.
Sabillo: Self-described socialist as President?
Hontiveros: Good, kung totoo.
Sabillo: Cayetano joining the Presidential delegation at the ASEAN summit?
Hontiveros: Good, legislator siya.
Sabillo: Mayor Sara Duterte’s move to fire Davao City police chief?
Hontiveros: Very good.
Sabillo: Cayetano’s plan for political ceasefire while President Duterte is away?
Hontiveros: Good.
Sabillo: Philippines hosting Ms. Universe?
Hontiveros: Good. I guess. Teka may maybe pa ba ako?
Nery: Pia Wurtzbach is the host.
Sabillo: Yes you still have one (maybe). You don’t have to use it actually.
Hontiveros: I should have said maybe for something earlier.
Sabillo: And the last one is, reviving Bataan Nuclear Power Plant?
Hontiveros: Bad. Alam ko na yung maybe ko would be yung extreme left in government kasi maybe kung seryoso sa governance na it is a strategic move for them. Historically ang strategic sa kanila is yung arm struggle even ideologically. Pero kung sasabihin nila na strategic sa kanila is good governance, yun that’s the maybe.
Sabillo: Is there anything you would want to explain further? We still have two minutes.
Hontiveros: Wala naman yata.
Nery: So it is true that the Senate by definition has a role to play in foreign affairs, so you welcome senators going on these trips and they get a better appreciation of the regional politics?
Hontiveros: Yes.
Sabillo: How about President Duterte’s recent performance or at least recent comments pertaining to other foreign leaders? What can you say about that?
Hontiveros: Can be improved. Pero he has time. Yes, he has six years.
Nery: So in the issue of the nuclear energy at least the BNPP
Sabillo: Are you open to the nuclear… even if not the BNPP?
Hontiveros: Not at all. Alam mo yan ang issue kung bakit ako naging aktibista tsaka even the most passionate and knowledgeable nuclear energy advocates dito sa Pilipinas, hindi nila masagot ang isa sa maraming issues laban sa nuclear energy. Yung usapin ng storage at disposal ng waste kasi libu-libong taon ang half-life at deterioration ng mga nuclear waste na yan. Paano natin gagawin yan ng ligtas? Paano natin gagastusan yan and at a time na the alternative of renewable energies bilang bahagi ng ating energy mix ay mas doable, bakit pa di ba? So it doesn’t really make sense.
Nery: I think on that nuclear note, we will have to end. We’re out of time. Thank you very much Sen. Risa Hontiveros for making time for this. Can you say hi to our viewers in Spain?
Hontiveros: Buenas Noches mga kababayan.
Nery: Thank you to those watching from Spain, UAE, UK, Japan also from the Republic of Davao and the many others following us on the different Inquirer platforms. Tayo’y magpapaalam na Tine.
Sabillo: Thank you Senator and thank you to everyone listening right now. Who’s next on the hot seat? Find out by following Inquirer.net on Facebook and on Twitter. As well as @jnery_newsstand and @ksabilloINQ on Twitter. This has been INQ&A with Senator Risa Hontiveros, thank you and good night.