2nd Biazon runs; healthcare for all

Rozzano “Ruffy” Biazon, senatorial candidate under the banner of the Liberal Party, is eyeing a seat in the Senate, where his father, Rodolfo Biazon, is serving the last few days of his third term as senator. The 41-year-old son is running on his own credentials and performance record. He has a medical technology degree (from the University of Santo Tomas), served as chief of staff of his father and former Sen. Serge Osmena. He could have started his political career as councilor, then mayor, but he decided to go full speed, running and winning a seat three times, in Congress, representing the lone district of Muntinlupa City, each time besting influential political figures.

It was while working with his dad and the senator from Cebu City that he became familiar with political issues and problems besetting people who needed legislative and other forms of assistance. He knew then that if he held public office, he would constantly be in touch with the grassroots, that he would “keep my ear on the ground.” If elected to the Senate, he told us at lunch with media yesterday, he will continue to be open to people who want to see him personally, and not be driven away by a cordon sanitaire. He even gives people his cell phone number.

He is proud to admit his accomplishments for his district: quality education (construction of school buildings and information technology development and scholarship grants); road construction and improvement, and better drainage systems; better “preventive healthcare” programs; improvement of capabilities of peace and order agencies; better livelihood opportunities like food processing, soap making, basic sewing and hair styling, and environmental projects as recycling and tree planting.

An initiative he introduced is enabling, so far, 9,000 women in his district to undergo a “single visit approach” to detecting symptoms of cervical cancer. This is a far better and quicker method than pap smear.

As to his legislative record in Congress, he authored and co-authored 44 Republic Acts, eight of which were principally authored by him. These laws regulate tobacco support; the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act; anti-trafficking in persons, the Cheaper Medicines Act, tax relief for minimum wage earners, socialized and lo-cost housing loan restructuring and condonation program, the new Cooperative Code, the Magna Carta for Homeowners, and the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

He authored more than 90 bills and resolutions in the 14th Congress focusing on issues concerning national defense, public order, health, education, and the family. Among these bills is that on making it mandatory for couples to undergo counseling prior to the issuance of a marriage license. This one aimed to help couples cope with challenges of married life. This bill was important to Ruffy, who considers fatherhood as “the best job in the world,” and thus treasures time spent with wife Trina Guinto-Reyes, and their four children, all boys, Carlo, Anton, Ino and Enzo.

For his accomplishments, he has been named Outstanding Congressman (Free Press Magazine), top 100 Young Leaders (Philippine Graphic Magazine) and Outstanding Congressman in the Use of Priority Development Fund for Education Projects (DepEd).

If elected, Ruffy said his programs will focus on improving livelihood, health and educational opportunities. The government must ensure matching of college education and market needs. Focus should be made on agricultural training.

He says one way to curb corruption is through the Freedom to Information Act which mandates government to give the public access to data about officials and employees. He identifies with young voters, he said. He is young and energetic, he is up to the latest trends in information technology he plays with Facebook and Twitters, has sincere dialogues with them via the Internet. And, he added, “There is so much to learn, and I am very willing to learn so many more things.”

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On another front, the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) commissioned the Social Weather Station (SWS) to conduct a nationwide survey of the Filipinos’ health needs. The study revealed that 86 percent of the 1,200 respondents believe that the government should provide quality healthcare to everyone including those who cannot pay for it.

While health is a basic right guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution, the survey shows more than 53 percent of Filipinos, particularly those coming from the D and E economic segments, do not have any public or private health insurance to speak of. Approximately a quarter of respondents have never been to a doctor or health facility even when they were sick, because they could not afford medical attention. It appears that only those with money — the A, B and C — or employees whose companies provide health insurance, are secure when it comes to the possibility of needing medical treatment or hospitalization.

As mentioned in one of my previous columns, the government has yet to allocate a bigger portion of the national budget to health. According to former Department of Health Secretary Dr. Alberto Romualdez and Dr. Soc Nyut-U of the World Health Organization, universal health care is not a question of financing because the government, in cooperation with NGOs and the private sector, can already afford to make the necessary reforms, which could ultimately lead to a working system.

Our 70 years average life expectancy is 15 years shorter than those of Thailand and Malaysia. The national infant mortality rate of about 35,000 per thousand live births translate to 80,000 Filipino babies dying of preventable causes each year. Furthermore, maternal mortality ratio has remained well above 150 per 100,000 births, meaning more than 3,000 Filipinos die every year.

It is imperative we bring healthcare to the fore of our national agenda. As the SWS survey disclosed, 78 percent of Filipinos believe that a program for health insurance is important in their choice of candidate for the coming elections. The level of politicization of health care has grown from that of paltry patronage into a national issue. The new guard needs to make health a priority, and pave the way for a sustainable solution to improve the health of Filipinos today and lives of generations to come.

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