MANILA -- Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito on Monday lauded as a “wise decision” President Duterte’s approval of the funds for the improvement of health facilities in the country under the 2019 national budget.
In a statement, Ejercito said President Duterte “saw the wisdom” in keeping more than PHP15 billion worth of allocations for Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), while vetoing some PHP95.3 billion worth of programs and projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“I was confident that programs to upgrade health services in the country would be supported by the President,” Ejercito said.
“I was certain all along that the funds which I had proposed to be included in the budget for the improvement and expansion of health facilities, and also for the provision of medical equipment, wouldn’t be vetoed by the President,” he added.
Ejercito, who pushed for the restoration of the HFEP funds in the budget bill, said it would be used to modernize and expand health facilities being operated by the Department of Health and local government units.
The said funds would also be used to provide these health infrastructures with the necessary equipment to better serve the people, especially those who live in far-flung areas that rely only on community health centers or barangay health units for their health needs, he noted.
“With the HFEP funds, I am optimistic that all these will be finished, complete with equipment. I am happy that after the impasse, we now have a budget that ensures that our people will get better health services from the government,” Ejercito said.
According to the senator, there are currently 900 completely constructed health facilities, 93 facilities are 90 percent completed, 235 are 80 percent completed, and 88 are 70 percent completed. (PNA)
