Aquino says World Health
Organization-Philippines citation of his achievements in providing quality
healthcare for all Filipinos is testament to the strength of a people working
towards change
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Monday
that the honor bestowed by the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for
the Western Pacific (WHO-ROWP) citing his achievements in attaining the highest
level of health for all Filipinos was a testament to “the strength of a people
willing and eager and fervently working towards change.”
In his speech keynoting the World Health Day
2013 held at the WHO-ROWP office in Manila on Monday, the President said that
this distinction accorded him is an “appreciation of the shifting culture of
governance in the Philippines.”
“Today, I accept this honor with deep gratitude,
knowing full well that it recognizes not the triumph of a single entity against
seemingly insurmountable odds, but the strength of a people willing and eager
and fervently working towards change,” the President said.
“It is an affirmation of an entire philosophy;
an appreciation of the shifting culture of governance in the Philippines. The
laws we were able to pass, the reforms we are seeing in the healthcare
sector—all of these emanate from our staunch resolve to reinstitute integrity
in government service,” he added.
The President was cited by WHO-ROWP for his
untiring efforts towards making the highest attainable standard of health as a
fundamental right for all through the raising of taxes on tobacco and alcohol,
and giving vulnerable Filipinos access to health insurance and reproductive
health care.
He told WHO officials and employees led by its
Regional Director Dr Shin Young-soo, members of the diplomatic corps and other
government officials in attendance of the underlying reason he has focused so
much attention in providing universal healthcare for all: that every human
life, every Filipino life regardless of circumstances of their birth, holds
value.
“This is what I believe in: I believe that every
Filipino life, every human life, holds equal value. I believe that there is
something inherently unjust when a child growing up in Baseco cannot enjoy the
same opportunity to live a productive, healthy life, as those of us here in
this conference hall. I believe that four out of ten Filipinos who die without
ever encountering a healthcare professional in their lifetime is a number that
is simply too high. Proper nutrition, proper access to healthcare, and an
opportunity to build a dignified life—these should not be reserved only for
those who have the means to pay for it,” the President said.
“If we are to build a true regime of
opportunities, then the most fundamental freedoms—the freedom from hunger, as
my father said; the freedom from unease afforded us by a secure nation; and the
freedom to actively participate in our democracy—these must all be extended to
every citizen, regardless of the circumstances of their birth,” he added.
“And so we set to work. With the help of allies
and advocates, we pushed for legislation that would ensure that the status quo
of unequal access to resources and knowledge would change. It might have taken
a grueling political battle against entrenched interests, but in December of
last year, finally, after languishing in congress for so long, both the
Responsible Parenthood and the Sin Tax Reform Acts were signed into law,” he
noted.
The President pointed out that aside from
pouring considerable resources to provide healthcare to all Filipinos, “it is
also a strategy” to ensure that a strong and healthy citizenry is a productive
citizenry.
“A healthy citizenry is a productive citizenry:
The people whose health we are investing heavily in are the same people who
will man workstations, till the fields, power our industries and fuel further
economic growth. Children who are inoculated from disease and who get proper
nutrition in their formative years will go to school more capable of learning
the skills necessary for higher-value jobs as they enter the professional
world,” the President said.
“Spending less money on medicines and check-ups
means more money towards savings, or books for their children, or even
investments that can drive the business sector and generate jobs for more of
our countrymen—sparking a virtuous cycle of opportunity and inclusive growth,”
he stressed.
He said that universal healthcare is now within
sight as 86 percent of the populace is already enrolled in the country’s health
care program, Philhealth, “with the lowest quintile of our population already
benefiting from our No Balance Billing policy which allows them to get treated
in government hospitals without shelling out a single peso.”
The President expressed confidence that with the
changes instigated under his Administration, Filipinos will come together and
work together to continue on with this philosophy.
“I have no doubt that in the future we will be
seeing as an everyday reality the fruits of the change we are striving to achieve
today. As early as now, we can see it sprouting in the undergrowth. We see it
in the chef who, after spending 24 years in America, decided to come home
permanently to the Motherland,” the President said.
“We see it in the graduate, who, despite a family
that sourced its entire income from gathering palm wine, can now look forward
to a distinguished military career after finishing at the top of his class at
our Military Academy,” he said.
“And we see it in every mother grateful that her
child can now look forward to a healthy, dignified life of opportunity, because
now, she has an entire nation on her side,” the President said. PND (rck)
Malacanang says Social Weather Stations and
Pulse Asia surveys showing President Aquino’s continued high satisfaction,
trust, performance and approval ratings reflect the Filipino people’s abiding
confidence in his administration
The Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia
surveys showing that President Benigno S. Aquino III continues to enjoy high
satisfaction, trust and performance approval ratings are indication of the
Filipino people’s support for his reforms towards equitable progress, a Palace
official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang following the
release of the SWS First Quarter and Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan surveys on
Monday.
"Almost three years into his term, public
support for President Aquino’s leadership remains at unprecedented highs. Both
the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan surveys,
released this Monday, consistently demonstrate sustained levels of satisfaction
(SWS, 74), trust (Pulse, 72), and performance approval (Pulse, 72) ratings for
the President," Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the results of surveys reflect the
Filipino people’s abiding confidence in President Aquino, and their support for
the reforms that the Chief Executive continues to institute throughout the
country.
"Massive investments in the people through
social services, health, and education; strategic focusing of resources in key
sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure; and the establishment
of a culture of integrity in governance have all redounded to the renewal of
the people’s trust in their leaders," the Palace official said.
"All these have also led to the affirmation
of the international community in our country’s progress, the latest evidence
of which is the credit ratings upgrade from Fitch Ratings, placing our country
at investment grade for the first time in its history," he stressed.
Lacierda noted that the widespread support from
both local and international communities will be integral in the Aquino
administration's pursuit for more reforms that will allow the Filipino nation
to take greater strides along the straight path towards equitable progress.
"As always, these results only strengthen
our resolve as we move towards the next half of the term. The Filipino people
remain this administration’s strength; the mandate they entrusted us when we
took office remains our guide," Lacierda said
"Encouraged by the support of the public
and guided by the knowledge that the Philippines is beginning to reap the
fruits of positive, meaningful change, we continue our steady march towards the
realization of our collective aspirations," he said. PND (js)
Malacanang says Aquino government continues its
mopping-up operations for returning Filipinos affected by standoff in Sabah
The Aquino government continues its mopping-up
operations for returning Filipinos who are affected by the standoff in Lahad
Datu in Sabah, a Palace official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday that the government
is ready to help Filipinos who are returning from Sabah.
"As far as we’re concerned, our concern is
primarily those Filipinos returning from Sabah and we we continue to provide
them assistance," Lacierda said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) and other concerned government agencies had already mobilized teams that
will help Filipinos in need in Sabah.
Based on the April 5 report of the DSWD-Disaster
Risk Reduction and Response Operations Office (DRRRO), some 5,349 persons have
returned from Sabah.
In a statement, the DSWD said 50 representatives
of government agencies in Region IX and the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) met recently in Lantaka Hotel, Zamboanga City to draft an
action plan in an effort to track and ensure that services are provided
families returning from Sabah.
"One action plan is to issue a Family
Access Card to displaced persons from Sabah upon disembarkation to any point in
Mindanao. The Provincial Social Welfare Officers (PSWOs) of the three provinces
of ARMM – Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan, will provide color-coded cards to
displaced families to entitle them to services being provided by the national
and local governments and to prevent duplication in the availment of the
services," DSWD Undersecretary Parisya Hashim-Taradji said.
Taradji explained that the access cards will
systematize provision of relief, transportation, shelter assistance and
cash-for-work to displaced families. She said the DSWD will also deploy twelve
social workers to Sabah on Monday to reinforce the efforts of staff currently
assisting the affected Filipinos.
Undersecretary Taradji also disclosed that the
DSWD will deploy a four-man team to Tawi-Tawi and Sulu on April 9-13 to
undertake needs assessment and contingency planning for the continued arrival
of displaced Filipinos from Sabah.
To date, a total of P10.4 million worth of
humanitarian aid has been provided affected families through the combined
resources of DSWD (P10.4 million) and NGOs (P4,100). The aid includes relief
packs, hygiene kits, and transportation assistance. PND (js)
