On Sunday, presidential aspirant and senator Manny Pacquiao emphasized the prioritization of the senior citizens of the country as well as its health workers by providing them with special care, financial support, and medical privileges if he wins in the 2022 elections.
Pacquiao said in a statement that the elderly must be well taken care of by providing free hospitalization, medical checkups, and maintenance medicine subsidies in addition to their usual discounts.
“We have to shower our senior citizens with all the love that we can give. They have done their part as citizens of the republic and as parents to their children so it’s time that we honor them by making life more comfortable for them. Ipakita natin ang pagmamahal natin sa ating mga seniors dahil sila ang dahilan kung bakit nandito tayo ngayon,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao also pointed out the issue of corruption within government health-care institutions, emphasizing that funding for these institutions can be used for aiding the senior citizens and health workers instead.
“If we can stop the massive corruption in our government institutions such as the Department of Health and PhilHealth, we can easily have enough money to help our senior citizens. Kailangang pasayahin naman natin sila bago sila mawala sa mundo,” said Pacquiao.
Furthermore, addressing COVID-19, he stated that his priorities would include strengthening and modernizing the country’s barangay health care system in order to de-clog government hospitals, as well as professionalizing barangay health workers.
“Masyadong mahina ang ating barangay health care system dahil maliban sa wala namang gustong maglingkod na mga medical professionals dahil napakababa ang sweldo, wala ring sapat na mga kagamitan ang ating mga barangay health centers,” Pacquiao said.
“Yung mga simpleng sugat o kahit yung panganganak, dapat kaya na itong gawin sa ating mga health centers basta kumpleto sila sa kagamitan at may mga medical staff naman na may kakayahan magsagawa ng mga simpleng medical procedure,” he added.
Photo Credit: Facebook/MannyPacquiao
