TUCP Party-List donated ambulances in Cebu

PRESS RELEASE

HON. RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA        April 23, 2010
Trade Union Congress Party-List (TUCP)
TUCP-PGEA Compound, Maharlika cor. Masaya Streets, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel/Fax: (632) 351-3757/924-7551

TUCP Party-List donated ambulances in Cebu

The Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP), the largest worker’s party in the country recently donated one brand new Kia ambulance each for the Municipalities of Liloan and Compostela, and Bgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City all in Cebu province.

“We in TUCP always strive to find ways to help our members, their families and communities. The ambulances will be used by our recipient local government units in Cebu to service not only our members and their loved ones in the areas but everyone who needs emergency health assistance. This is just one simple way for us in the party to show our gratitude to our members and supporters in Cebu” said TUCP Party-List Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza.

Mendoza also added that last year, TUCP also gave two units of ambulance to the Municipalities of Midsayap and Kabacan in North Cotabato.

“TUCP always put premium to public health. We understand that the health budget of our LGUs most especially in the provinces is not enough to purchase much expensive items such as ambulances. So we responded immediately to the requests of our constituents” added Mendoza.

TUCP as part of its advocacy for universal access to health services also fought for the enactment of the Cheaper Medicines Act so that ordinary workers and their families will have a wider access for quality but cheaper medicines.

“I am saddened by the reality that majority of our workers do not have the capacity to afford health services. The largest part of a worker’s income goes to food and daily maintenance. Not much is left for their health concerns,“ Mendoza lamented.

Mendoza further explained that it is an unfortunate that in our country, unlike in more developed societies, our citizens are not covered by sufficient health protection services. Government hospitals do not have ample finances to serve any citizen who needs medical attention.

“Our public health system is sadly inadequate. Moreover, most workers are not covered by private health service providers. Only few companies provide medical and hospitalization benefits to their employees. And Philhealth can only give small subsidies for medical expenses,“ added Mendoza.

“In 2010, only P33.678 billion or 2.2% of the national budget was alloted for health. That is too small given the fact that majority of Filipinos are poor who only depend on public services. That is the reason why TUCP is pushing to increase the budget allocation for health” stressed Mendoza.

TUCP pledged to come-up with other services and will continue to give more assistance for its members, their families and communities.

“We will help our workers and their families in anyway we can. They are the backbone of our economy and society. They deserve better services and more attention from the government”, Mendoza finally stressed.