ALINSUNOD sa pagnanais ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na mabigyan ng maayos na serbisyong medikal ang mga Pilipino, nagsanib-puwersa ang tanggapan ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Department of Health (DOH), at Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) upang tulungan ang mga pasyenteng may kanser.

Plinantsa ng tanggapan ni Romualdez ang pagpapalabas ng P6.230 milyong halaga ng medial assistance sa pamamagitan ng guarantee letter sa mga pasyente ng Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) sa Quezon City.

Ito ay kasabay ng pagdalo ni Speaker Romualdez sa una nitong town hall meeting kung sa nagsalita ito kaugnay ng panggagamot, pangangalaga, at iba pang isyung kinakaharap ng mga pasyenteng may kanser, kanilang pamilya, at mga health practitioner.

“The care and medication of a cancer patient is among the most financially taxing things that a family can experience. It is even more difficult if children are involved. Through this medical assistance, we hope to somehow ease the burden on these families and give them hope,” ani Speaker Romualdez.

Ang 19 na cancer patient na lumahok sa town hall meeting ay binigyan ng P50,000 halaga ng Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) ng Department of Health (DoH).

Nabigyan naman ng MAIP guarantee letter na nagkakahalaga ng tig-P30,000 ang 176 pasyente ng PCMC.

Sa kabuuan ay P6,780,000 ang halaga ng guarantee letter na naibigay sa mga pasyente ng PCMC sa naturang event.

Ang 30 lumahok sa town hall meeting ay binigyan din ng tig-P10,000 cash assistance mula sa Assistance to individuals in crisis situations (AICS) program ng DSWD.

“I sincerely thank President Marcos, DoH Secretary Dr. Ted Herbosa and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian for their kind-hearted intervention. Their assistance will literally end up saving lives,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez, na kumakatawan sa unang distrito ng Leyte.

“This event is the start of a series of townhall meetings we will be attending to hear the voices of our people. We thank PCMC and PCC for this initiative and for paving way to bring us closer to our people. Through this, we will validate concerns, reach the grassroots, hear out your needs and challenges. We would also like to hear proposed solutions that Congress can address,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Sinabi ni Speaker Romualdez na libu-libong Pilipino ang namamatay sanhi ng kanser taun-taon. Ito rin ang pangunahing sanhi ng pagkamatay sa bansa.

Ang mga natutunan umano ni Speaker Romualdez at iba pang mambabatas sa town hall meeting ay kanilang magagamit upang makagawa ng mga angkop na hakbang ang Kamara para matulungan ang mga cancer patient.

Nakasama ni Speaker sa town hall meeting sina dating Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-an na kumatawan kay Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, chairman ng House Committee on Appropriations, Representatives Franz Pumaren ng Quezon City, Janette Garin ng Iloilo, Jude Acidre ng Tingog Party-list, Bong Teves ng TGP Party-list, at Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

“Today, you opened our eyes to many challenges besetting our patients affected with cancer. What complicates things is the added impact on their families and our society. Aggravated by the fact that the cost of treatment and care is too heavy for our patients,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez.

“While many doctors and health workers are willing to serve our country and our patients, the need for health facilities, government subsidy for cancer care expenses, temporary shelter for patients and healthcare workers and even the long neglected parking spaces that is a major obstacle to service delivery has been confirmed,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Tiniyak rin ni Speaker Romualdez na bibigyang pansin ng Kamara ng mga programa para sa mga pasyenteng may kanser at titiyakin na malalagyan ng pondo ang mga ito.

“We will make sure, together with the Committee on Appropriations and the whole Congress, that public funds will go to where it is truly needed. We commit to make sure that the voices of all stakeholders are considered. Foremost among our priorities is to let the people feel that our government is a shoulder to rely on. Ang gobyerno ang inyong ‘Kuya’ sa panahon ng pangangailangan,” giit ni Speaker Romualdez.

Nagpasalamat din si Speaker Romualdez sa PCMC at mga empleyado nito na tumulong sa pag-organisa sa town hall meeting.

“Sa ating PCMC stafff who went out of their way to organize this event, Maraming salamat po. Alam namin ang hirap nyo lalo na nung pandemya,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez.