SONA: Hopeful, with correction

The fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Bongbong Marcos gives hope, but only if he delivers.

- CITO BELTRAN

Compared to what transpired last year, it was encouraging to hear the President talk about the many corrections and improvements in the coverage and services of PhilHealth, after the agency was nearly "defunded" and crucified.

In the SONA, the President actually touched on the little-known struggles of transplant patients who spend approximately P50,000 a month for anti-rejection medicines, while cancer patients spend even more. But now PhilHealth will cover much of it.

PBBM did a much better job informing the public of the new case rates and services available through PhilHealth in the SONA than the agency itself. PhilHealth has to be more visible and louder, so the people know!

There is no doubt that the DOH and all its agencies and hospitals have been doing a great job in spite of its limited resources and news that more hospitals, facilities, and manpower will be added is welcomed.

However, the government is spending, almost wasting, too much money on preventable diseases, giving the lion's share for "the poor" but fails to give something back to productive taxpayers in the private sector.

Instead of "curing and caring for the sick," government should invest in preventing disease through education. It was good that PBBM talked about the current trend of obesity among Filipinos, but opening the limited public parks to Zumba sessions will not save lives and billions of pesos.