Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday lauded the sacrifices and efforts of the personnel working at the Department of Health (DOH) Treatment and Rehabilitation Facility in Taguig City.
“We’re here to tell you how much we value your work and of course to find out more [about your situation],” Cayetano said during the handover of donations for the patients and personnel of the facility on October 29, 2021.
During the short program, the former Speaker said despite the good intentions of various private and public entities, most rehabilitation and treatment facilities fall short in terms of utilities and other necessities.
“When the President became President, ang daming nag-offer na gumawa ng rehab… pero basically ang ginawa, kwarto, o mga gym na malalaki. Hindi naisapuso na the personnel, the equipment, ‘di ba, that’s all part of the deal… walang specification,” he said.
(When President Duterte came into power, a lot of entities offered to build rehabilitation centers. However, these centers are just rooms, or big covered gymnasiums. They seem to have forgotten that other specifications — such as the personnel and the equipment — should have been part of the deal.)
“I’m hoping that itong election period na ito…nakikinig ang politiko (I’m hoping that this election period, politicians will listen),” he added, noting that the people should be given a “louder voice” so that better enforcement and treatment may be achieved.
The former Speaker was joined during the activity by Taguig 2nd District Rep. Lani Cayetano and Dr. Alfonso A. Villaroman, the Chief of the DOH Treatment and Rehabilitation Facility.
“We would like to honor you po and thank you for taking good care of our patients….dapat mas marami pang suporta ang maibigay dito (centers like this should be given support),” Lani Cayetano said, expressing that greater financial support should be allocated to treatment and rehabilitation facilities.
The donation packs included hygiene kits (containing shampoo, soaps, and the like) for patients as well as hot meals for all those present.
Everyday utilities such as 20 standing electric fans and 40 rechargeable flashlights were also donated to the facility.
The total beneficiaries of the event is 459. Of the number, 143 are patients and 316 are personnel of the facility.
