Tayag: Leave DOH out of Cha-cha talks

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Eric Tayag on Thursday appealed to leave the agency out of the discussion on changing the 1987 Constitution amid reports that one of its programs is being used for a signature campaign to push for Charter change (Cha-cha).

“‘Wag na tayong dumagdag sa usapin lalo na na dinadawit pa ang DOH. Kawawa naman ang mga humihingi ng tulong sa amin kasi patuloy naman ang pagbibigay namin ng tulong sa kanila, kasama na itong MAIFIP (Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients),” Tayag said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(Let's not add to the matter, especially that the DOH is being involved. We pity those who ask us for help as we continue to help them through MAIFIP.) 

“Naiintindihan namin na mainit ang usapin diyan. Hayaan lang natin ang mga mambabatas na mag-deklara kung ano ang magandang paraan kung talagang itutuloy nila ang Charter change,” added Tayag.

(We understand that this is a hot topic right now. Let's just let the lawmakers determine the best way if they will really push for Charter change.) 

Tayag made the statement after Senator Imee Marcos expressed anger at the alleged use of government financial aid for the signature campaign.

This involved the DOH’s MAIFIP, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, and the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) program. 

DOH earlier emphasized that the only consideration to become a beneficiary of their medical assistance program is the assessment from registered social workers. 

Tayag also said that the DOH has no interaction with individuals applying for MAIFIP because it is only a paper assessment. 

He also stressed that it is not practical if signature campaign movers would be using the medical aid program for their agenda because it only has a few beneficiaries. 

“Unang una, kung ang pakay… ‘yung People’s Initiative ay hindi naman gano’n karami ang nabibigyan ng MAIFIP. Halimbawa, sampu lang isang buwan, kung ‘yun ang pagtutuunan ng pansin sa People’s Initiative ay nagsayang ka lang ng oras,” he said. 

(We don’t have many MAIFIP beneficiaries if their goal is the People's Initiative. For example, if we only have ten beneficiaries in a month, then they are just wasting their time.)  —Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News