Raffy Tulfo seeks transfer of P2 billion from DENR’s 2023 budget to Nat’l Children’s Hospital

Senator Raffy Tulfo eyes cutting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ proposed P23.131 billion for 2023 by P2 billion and realign it to the National Children’s Hospital.

Tulfo delivered a privilege speech Monday in light of the celebration of National Children’s Month.

The neophyte lawmaker lamented the sad state of two major hospitals in the country namely the NCH and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

His speech focused on what he observed in the NCH which he said he personally visited even before his election as senator.

“The NCH, the health facility for the poorest and weakest, is in dire need of our help. Kung paano naghihingalo ang mga pasyente doon, ganon din ang paghihingalo ang pasilidad at sitwasyon ng NCH,” Tulfo said.

The lawmaker mentioned the dilapidated facilities, outdated and lacking equipment, the uncompetitive salaries which cause lack in manpower.

As an example, Tulfo said some patients would need to wait for three years to get their therapies.

“Ang nangyayari do it yourself ang medical attention na nabibigay sa mga bata,” Tulfo said.

“What kind of parents are we to these children? The therapy room is very small just imagine po halos kalahati lang po yan ng public CR natin dito sa Senado,” he continued.

He then pushed to cut the budget of the DENR.

“Ipaglalaban ko po na bawasan ang budget ng DENR na para sa akin ay maraming pagkukulang. P10 billion for the Office of the Secretary and P2 billion for the operation… So P2 billion po ang dapat mabawas sa DENR at yan po ay mai-transfer sa National Children’s Hospital na mas nangangailangan po ng tulong dahil dito po yung mga inosenteng anghel ang dapat nating matulungan sa perang yan,” Tulfo said.

“And I call upon my colleagues here in the Senate to please support me with this advocacy that I have now na para mabudgetan po itong National Children’s Hospital,” he added.

Tulfo likewise challenged the Department of Health, Department of Budget and Management and his fellow legislators in the House of Representatives and the Senate to visit the NCH to see for themselves the real situation in the state hospital.

“Nung makausap ko po sila wala raw pong nagbibisita sa kanila na opistal ng gobyerno…Ilang secretary na po ang nagpalit-palit sa ating gobyerno ni isang DOH secretary wala raw pong pumunta don para bumisita para makita sana nila ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga pasyente doon. Wala rin pong bumibisitang mga taga-gobyerno,” he said.

“I challenge the DOH, the DBM and all my esteemed colleagues sana ho kung meron kayong panahon bisitahin niyo po para makita nyo naman po kung gano kalunos-lunos ang kalagayan ng mga pasyente don,” he added.

GMA News Online has sought the comment of DENR and the DOH on Tulfo’s speech but they have yet to respond as of posting time.—LDF, GMA Integrated News