Cayetano, hiningi ang strategic direction ng DOH sa ilalim ni Mercado
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is seeking the Department of Health’s (DOH) strategic direction and reform agenda under the leadership of Secretary Dr. Edwin Mercado, particularly on how the agency intends to ensure that public health spending translates to better health outcomes for Filipinos.
“What reforms will the DOH pursue to ensure that public health spending becomes genuinely transformative and advances the constitutional guarantees on the right to health and the general well-being of the Filipino people?” Cayetano said in a letter submitted to Senator JV Ejercito, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance on September 4, 2026.
The Senate began deliberations on Friday on the DOH’s proposed P264-billion budget for fiscal year 2027. Cayetano submitted his questions to the committee to ensure that the DOH’s written responses, together with relevant supporting documents and data, would provide a more complete basis for reviewing the proposed budget and ensure that the agency’s commitments and explanations are properly reflected in the official record.
“There is perhaps no government function more directly connected to the dignity, well-being, and everyday lives of our people than the delivery of accessible and quality healthcare,” the senator said.
“The national health budget is more than an accounting of appropriations. It is a measure of whether the State is fulfilling its constitutional duty to protect and promote the right to health of every Filipino,” he added.
Focus on anti-stunting programs
A staunch advocate of measures to address stunting, Cayetano placed particular focus on the government’s anti-stunting initiatives, including the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (2023-2028) and related programs.
He asked the DOH to explain the factors behind the increase in the prevalence of stunting despite commitments made by the agency during previous budget deliberations. He also sought details on what it intends to do differently, as well as the specific targets and measurable outcomes it aims to achieve through its interventions.
Cayetano is author of the Anti-Stunting Action Plan Act (Senate Bill No. 416) which seeks to create a high-level council to coordinate a whole-of-government response, prioritizing data-driven monitoring and targeted resources for areas with high stunting rates. He further pushed for clear accountability mechanisms, and called for the appointment of an Anti-Stunting Czar to oversee the program’s implementation.
“Irreversible ito… Ang problema mo sa stunting, walang rewind ito.. Kaya the best return on investment, peso for peso, is to prevent stunting,” the senator said.
Vaccine procurement and delivery
Following up on questions he raised during previous budget hearings, Cayetano asked the DOH to provide a complete inventory and status report on the procurement and delivery of vaccines from 2022 to the present.
During the plenary deliberation last year for the 2026 national budget, Cayetano slammed the DOH for its delayed vaccine deliveries. “Can you guarantee us in 2026 that there will be no delays?” he said at the time, adding that the delay was unacceptable especially with so many people relying on the timely delivery of these vaccines.
The requested information, he said in his letter to Ejercito, would help senators assess the status of vaccine procurement and delivery and determine whether public funds are being effectively translated into essential health services.
Primary care and health infrastructure
Cayetano’s other questions focused on the gaps in primary healthcare facilities, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
He asked the DOH to provide the Senate with its plan and timetable to address these gaps and improve access to essential health services in underserved communities.
He also requested a report on the utilization and distribution of health infrastructure funds from 2022 to 2026, particularly those allocated through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
In addition, he asked for a comprehensive report on all foreign-assisted projects, loans, grants, and other financing facilities currently being utilized or implemented by DOH.
The Minority Leader emphasized that his inquiries are intended to strengthen the budget review process and support the development of a responsive health budget under the new DOH leadership.
“This representation therefore assures the majority of our full and good faith cooperation so that we may arrive, together, at the best possible budget for 2027 — a budget that is not only adequately funded but responsive to actual health needs, grounded on evidence, and capable of transforming health outcomes for all Filipinos,” he said.
Filipino Version
Cayetano seeks DOH’s strategic direction under Mercado’s leadership
Gustong malaman ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang direksyon at mga reporma ng Department of Health (DOH) sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Secretary Dr. Edwin Mercado, partikular kung paano titiyakin ng ahensya na ang paggastos sa kalusugan ay tunay na magreresulta sa mas mabuting kalagayan ng kalusugan para sa mga Pilipino.
“What reforms will the DOH pursue to ensure that public health spending becomes genuinely transformative and advances the constitutional guarantees on the right to health and the general well-being of the Filipino people?” wika ni Cayetano sa isang liham na isinumite kay Senator JV Ejercito, chairperson ng Senate Committee on Finance nitong September 4, 2026.
Nagsimula nitong Biyernes ang pagtalakay ng Senado sa panukalang P264 bilyong budget ng DOH para sa taong 2027. Ibinigay ni Cayetano ang kanyang mga tanong sa komite upang matiyak na ang mga inihaing sagot ng DOH ay magbibigay ng mas kumpletong basehan sa pagsusuri ng panukalang budget. Layunin din niyang matiyak na maayos na maitatala sa official record ang mga pangako at paliwanag ng ahensya.
“There is perhaps no government function more directly connected to the dignity, well-being, and everyday lives of our people than the delivery of accessible and quality healthcare,” sabi ng senator.
“The national health budget is more than an accounting of appropriations. It is a measure of whether the State is fulfilling its constitutional duty to protect and promote the right to health of every Filipino,” dagdag niya.
Pokus sa mga programa laban sa stunting
Matagal nang isinusulong ni Cayetano ang mga hakbang para matugunan ang stunting o pagkaantala sa paglaki at pag-unlad ng mga bata. Dahil dito, partikular niyang binigyang pansin ang mga programa ng gobyerno laban sa stunting, kabilang ang pagpapatupad ng Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (2023-2028) at iba pang kaugnay na programa.
Hiniling niya sa DOH na ipaliwanag kung bakit tumataas pa rin ang bilang ng mga batang may stunting sa kabila ng mga pangakong ginawa ng ahensya noong mga nakaraang pagdinig tungkol sa budget. Hiningi din niya ang mga detalye kung ano ang balak nitong gawin, pati ang mga target at resulta na nais nitong makamit sa pamamagitan ng mga programa nito.
Si Cayetano ang may-akda ng Anti-Stunting Action Plan Act (Senate Bill No. 416) na naglalayong bumuo ng isang high-level council para pag-ugnayin ang whole-of-government response. Bibigyang prayoridad nito ang paggamit ng datos sa pagsubaybay at paglalaan ng sapat na resources sa mga lugar na mataas ang kaso ng stunting. Isinusulong din niya ang malinaw na sistema ng pananagutan at ang pagtatalaga ng isang Anti-Stunting Czar na mangangasiwa sa pagpapatupad ng programa.
“Irreversible ito… Ang problema mo sa stunting, walang rewind ito.. Kaya the best return on investment, peso for peso, is to prevent stunting,” wika ng senador.
Pagbili at paghahatid ng mga bakuna
Bilang follow-up sa mga tanong niya sa mga nakaraang budget hearing, hiniling ni Cayetano sa DOH na magbigay ng kumpletong listahan at status report tungkol sa pagbili at paghahatid ng mga bakuna mula 2022 hanggang sa kasalukuyan.
Sa plenary deliberation para sa 2026 national budget noong nakaraang taon, pinuna ni Cayetano ang DOH dahil sa pagkaantala ng paghahatid ng mga bakuna. “Can you guarantee us in 2026 that there will be no delays?” aniya. Iginiit niya na hindi katanggap-tanggap ang pagkaantala ng mga bakuna lalo na’t maraming umaasa sa mabilis na paghatid nito.
Sa liham niya kay Ejercito, sinabi ni Cayetano na makatutulong ang impormasyong hinihingi niya sa DOH para masuri ng mga senador ang status ng pagbili at paghahatid ng mga bakuna. Makikita rin dito kung nagagamit nang maayos ang pondo ng bayan upang maibigay ang mahahalagang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Primary care at health facilities
Nakatuon ang iba pang tanong ni Cayetano sa kakulangan ng mga pasilidad para sa primary healthcare, lalo na sa mga lugar na malayo, mahirap puntahan, at kulang sa serbisyo.
Hiniling niya sa DOH na isumite sa Senado ang plano at timetable nito para matugunan ang mga kakulangang ito at mapabuti ang access sa mga pangunahing serbisyong pangkalusugan sa mga komunidad na kulang sa serbisyo.
Humingi rin siya ng report tungkol sa paggamit at pamamahagi ng health infrastructure funds mula 2022 hanggang 2026, lalo na ang mga pondong inilaan sa pamamagitan ng Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
Bukod dito, humingi siya ng kumpletong ulat sa lahat ng foreign-assisted projects, loans, grants, at iba pang financing facilities na kasalukuyang ginagamit o ipinapatupad ng DOH.
Binigyang diin ng Minority Leader na ang kanyang mga tanong ay naglalayong palakasin ang proseso ng pagsusuri sa budget at makatulong sa pagbuo ng isang health budget na tumutugon sa tunay na pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino sa ilalim ng bagong pamunuan ng DOH.
“This representation therefore assures the majority of our full and good faith cooperation so that we may arrive, together, at the best possible budget for 2027 — a budget that is not only adequately funded but responsive to actual health needs, grounded on evidence, and capable of transforming health outcomes for all Filipinos,” wika ng senador.
Share This Post
