Zubiri vows to fight privatization of government hospitals

CEBU, Philippines - Former Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri yesterday vowed to lead a rally in Cebu should the Department of Health pursue its plan to privatize government hospitals including the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Zubiri said that the proposal is counter-productive to his proposed universal health care program.

“Makigkombati gyud ko, mag-rally ko, makig-away gyud ko, dala ko’g dos por dos, di ko mosugot, bahala sila diha, atong pokpokon ilang ulo diha.  (I will really fight them.)” said Zubiri in a press conference yesterday.

Zubiri pointed out that like any other government services such as power and water that are privatized, the price of services will double if not triple.

“Makigkombati gyud ko para sa ato mga kaigsoon nga bisdak nga dili nato padayonon ang pag-privatize sa ato mga pangpubliko nga hospital labi na ang atong Vicento Sotto Memorial Medical Center. (I will really fight for the Cebuanos. Public hospitals should not be privatized especially VSMMC)”,  Zubiri said.

Zubiri recently led the inauguration of a P30 million worth of Pediatric Pavillion at VSMMC funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Zubiri, who is seeking again a Senate seat on the May 13 elections under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), is advocating for the universal health care for indigent families which he started in Bukidnon when he was Congressman.

He said that Bukidnon has enrolled 187,000 out 240,000 families under the program which cost up to P250 million of the provincial funds.

Seeing that small provinces cannot afford to finance the program prompted Zubiri to push for the national government to spend for the devolved functions in partnership with the local government units.

Under the proposed Hospital ng Bayan Program, the same standards of quality services are set for every government hospital all over the country and provide free medicines to patients.

Zubiri will also push for the exemption of doctors and nurses from the salary standardization law.

He said that the government has enough resources citing the P42 billion that has been allocated by the present administration for the conditional cash transfer and around P50 billion is expected to come in the government coffers from the sin taxes.

“Moabot ang adlaw nga kita tanan, di lang sa Makati nga no balance billing, libreng patambal sa mga hospitals like in other countries, (The time will come that all of us, not just in Makati, will enjoy free hospitalization like in other countries.)” Zubiri said.

Zubiri visited the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue last Tuesday while he visited yesterday the areas from Talisay City to Sibonga, all of the first district of Cebu Province.

Zubiri thanked the mayors, whom he has helped, for the warm welcome despite different political affiliations.

“Dinhi sa Cebu, we are willing to cross party lines para makatabang sa usa ka bisdak nga nakatabang pud sa ila. (Here in Cebu, we are willing to cross party lines to help a fellow Cebuano who has also helped them before)”, he said.

Zubiri has given P1 million to each of all the cities and municipalities in the Province of Cebu regardless of political affiliation of some mayors.

“We are reaping the benefits of what I have done and what we will continue to do sa among programang one town one project ni Migz Zubiri,” he added.—(FREEMAN)