Tingog Partylist said it will “continue to fulfill its mandate with integrity, transparency, and accountability, undeterred by baseless criticisms”.
“We call on the public to see through this distraction and focus on what truly matters: ensuring that healthcare reaches every Filipino, regardless of political noise,” the partylist said in a press release from the Office of the House Speaker Dec. 12, on Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s privilege speech questioning its inclusion in the recently-signed memorandum of agreement with PhilHealth and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
Public service should always prioritize the welfare of the people, not personal or political agendas, it added.
It said that the MOA’s intent is clear: to address the dire gaps in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas. “Tingog’s role in this initiative is not about power or control, but about facilitating solutions for local government units to improve healthcare access.”
It said that under the MOA, it will assist LGUs in accessing financial mechanisms provided by DBP and ensure their participation in the program; provide fiscal training, capacity-building, and other initiatives to enable local government units access DBP’s credit facility; and extend additional support to patients in need under its medical assistance programs.
“These are well within our mandate as a legislative representative of marginalized communities. Tingog Partylist will not handle funds, manage projects, or encroach upon the functions of the Department of Health or the Department of the Interior and Local Government, as these agencies remain central to national healthcare programs,” it added. ||
