By Filane Mikee Cervantes | Philippine News Agency
Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday lauded First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos’ “Lab for All” project for making healthcare more accessible to the poor, especially those in the provinces.
During the launch of the “Lab for All” caravan in Tacloban City, Romualdez said the First Lady’s health services delivery project provides free laboratory services, free x-ray, free consultation with specialists and free medicine for Filipino communities.
Lab for All stands for Libreng Laboratoryo, Konsulta at Gamot Para sa Lahat.
“Ang proyekto pong ito ay may malalim na epekto at kahalagahan para sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino. Marami sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga malalayong lugar, ang walang sapat na access sa mga serbisyong medikal. Dahil dito, madalas na napapabayaan ang kanilang kalusugan,” Romualdez said.
He said the free health services offered by Lab for All reduce the barriers such as limited geographical access to facilities and financial constraints, thus allowing Filipinos to improve their health.
“Para sa mga ordinaryong Pilipino, ang ‘Lab for All’ caravan ay isang malaking tulong. Ito ay nagdadala ng serbisyong medikal direkta sa kanilang mga komunidad. Nagliligtas ito sa kanila mula sa pagod, gastos, at hirap ng pagpunta sa mga malalayong ospital,” he said.
“Lubos naming pinapahalagahan ang dedikasyon at sakripisyo ng ating First Lady at ng buong team na bumubuo ng Lab for All caravan. Sa pamamagitan ng kanilang pagsusumikap, nabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga senior citizens, na makakuha ng serbisyong medikal na libre,” he added.
The Speaker urged his constituents in Tacloban City and Leyte to take advantage of the First Lady’s health services delivery project.
The First Lady, Romualdez, and other officials later assisted in the distribution of PH4.2 million in financial aid under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at the Leyte Normal University.
A total of 1,026 workers received P4,050 each in financial assistance under TUPAD.