Sec. Garin clarifies: “I am not running in 2016 polls”

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Health Secretary Janet Garin yesterday declared she will not be running for any national position in the 2016 elections, contrary to recent reports that she will be the vice-presidential bet of Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

Garin said Mar, during the National Health Summit earlier, was only joking in saying “Mar-Garin” as a “healthier tandem” in 2016, and was referring only to “margarine” that was discussed at the time as a healthier alternative than the oil used in cooking among households.

"No.. no... it is not true that there will be Mar-Garin tandem in 2016, Mar was only joking actually, and I am not running because I am focusing on my health programs reaching out the poor patients nationwide,” said Garin, younger sister of Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto and a close relative of the Petilla clan in the province.

Garin was in Tacloban during the" launching of One Family, Fun Day" held at the temporary shelter site of 319 families who survived typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

The secretary also clarified the bringing of the program to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center has no political agenda, considering that her cousin, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla will be running for senator next year.

The health summit, bearing the theme “Universal Health Care,” was aimed at improving health services and increasing access of the public to quality mother and child health care program, she said.

Early last month, the DOH had launched the high impact goals, which focus on five key areas (Hi-5): Maternal health care, infant care, child care, prevention of HIV/AIDS, and service delivery network. The DOH had allocated P500,000 for every government hospital all over the country under its Hi-5 program, Garin said.

According to Garin, the DOH, with all these strategies for different priority programs, will just have to improve on coordination, and eliminate duplication of health programs in the department.

Garin also promised to improve the health of thousands of Yolanda victims still living in temporary shelters at Barangay 62 of Sagkahan district in this city.

Minor medical operations, distribution of medicines, and consultations were among of the health services provided during the visit of the secretary.