In today’s @senatePH Committee on Health hearing, my two health bills were discussed: SBN 63 or the Build, Build, Build for Health Infrastructure Bill, and SBN 1442, providing for the establishment & operation of additional quarantine facilities in all strategic areas in the PH.

I filed Senate Bill No. 66 last year even before #COVID19. My intention was very simple: that health infrastructure be included in this administration's flagship projects in its remaining years and even beyond.

Senate Bill No. 1442, meanwhile, is a Covid-response measure that will ensure our country's preparedness should we face another public health crisis in the future.

Building on our health infrastructure to improve the delivery of healthcare services is consistent with the newly enacted Universal Health Care Law, with the Sustainable Development Goals #SDGs of which the country is a signatory, and also with our Philippine Development Plan.

In my manifestation, I stressed that #COVID19 exposed many gaps in our healthcare system, gaps that were a result of decades of insufficient funding & investments for health. As early as 2004, when I chaired the Senate Committee on Health, I've been aware of this sad reality.

For decades, our healthcare system had often been neglected. This unfortunate event known as #COVID19 finally opened our eyes and gave us that window of opportunity to provide the necessary funding, attention, and effort that our healthcare system deserves.

In the hearing, I also gave my support for a proposed measure that authorizes @DOHgovph to set bed capacities in various public hospitals. The need of Filipinos in diff. provinces for proper healthcare should not be compromised just because Congress has not passed a law.

I thank our colleague, @senatePH Committee on Health Chair Sen. @SAPBongGo, for hearing these very important measures. I also thank our @DOHgovph officials led by Secretary @SecDuque, and all resource persons for giving us their time to hear these bills & to give us their input.

Finally, I am happy to be serving under our President, who has shown that he is definitely much dedicated to ensure the health & welfare of Filipinos.