Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday vowed to allocate funds for specialty centers to be established in regional hospitals to bring medical services closer to the people, especially the poor.

He made the commitment days after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act.

In a statement, the Speaker noted that funds for the centers may not be included in the proposed PHP5.768-trillion national budget for 2024, since the outlay was prepared months before the President signed the law.

“In any case, we in the House will ensure that the necessary initial appropriations are allocated for the implementation of the law and the setting up, equipping and staffing of the special medical care units in regional hospitals,” he said.

Romualdez said he would ask the House Committee on Appropriations – which is now in the process of scrutinizing the budget proposal – to see to it that such funds are incorporated in the proposed 2024 national budget.

Besides ensuring that the specialized regional units will have the necessary equipment and staff, he also vowed that the House of Representatives will also look for funds to care for the sick coming from remote communities.

“We will also allocate medical assistance funds for them,” he said.

In the meantime, Romualdez lauded President Marcos for signing the Congress-approved Regional Specialty Centers Act.

“Once these special care facilities are established, people in the provinces, in rural areas, no longer need to travel to Metro Manila to receive specialized treatment and care. They will be spending less for transportation and other related costs. We are bringing the centers closer to our people,” he said.

At present, specialty hospitals – Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center, Children’s Medical Center, and Orthopedic Hospital – are all located in Metro Manila. (PNA)