VP Sara stresses need for better public health in Philippines

Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday underscored the immediate need to strengthen the Philippines’ public health system.

In her speech during the opening ceremony of the 49th Midyear Convention of the Philippine College of Surgeons in Davao City, Duterte said the country’s journey throughout the pandemic highlighted the demand to put premium priority in public health and provide more avenues for Filipinos, especially the poor, to access medical services.

She said that the lack of basic health services to the poor and in marginalized communities inspired the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to establish a medical assistance program to serve them.

“Coming from one of the biggest cities in the country, natutunan ko na mahalagang magkaroon ng mga satellite offices sa ibat-ibang lugar para masiguro na mabababa yung tulong na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” she said.

(I’ve learned that it is important to have satellite offices in different areas to ensure that the help needed by our countrymen is given to them.)

The OVP currently has eight satellite offices outside of the National Capital Region, located in the cities of Cauayan, Dagupan, Bacolod, Tacloban, Cebu, Davao, Tandag, and Zamboanga. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News