Tulfo eyes lifelong care for PWDs, children with special needs

Senator-elect Raffy Tulfo vowed to push for measures that will ensure lifelong care for adults and children who have special needs and those persons with disability.

In a press statement issued Friday, Tulfo said he is preparing for a landmark legislation that "seeks to significantly improve upon the present support system for the individuals and families in need."

"For all Filipinos with disabilities, special needs, continuing care, and mental health conditions, I will push for lifelong care from the time of their illness’ detection to their elderly years," he said.

"Instead of having separate discordant systems for PWDs, seniors, persons with comorbidities, and mental health conditions, I will push for integrated, interdisciplinary care and research, so the country can maximize its limited resources through value for investment care, but delivered primarily at the local government level so the services are readily accessible. The current care systems will be subsystems of the integrated," he added.

Tulfo is eyeing a 5% fixed allocation in the annual appropriations of the national and local government units for the health and support care of PWDs as well as kids and adults with special needs.

He added that he would make sure the national budget and the internal revenue allotment would have substantial allocations for PWDs as well as kids and adults with special needs.

If this will be done, Tulfo said free wheelchairs, completely free special education (SPED), amply-subsidized PhilHealth coverage for emergency and long-term care, including therapy for children and adults with special needs, comorbidities, and mental health conditions would be obtained and provided to those who need them.

"I am open to more ideas and suggestions from doctors, nurses, physical therapists, SPED teachers, and civil society organizations with focus on children and adults with special needs, seniors, PWDs and persons with comorbidities. They are the experts so I will listen to them," he said.

Moreover, Tulfo said he would push for school clinics and "super" barangay health centers. He is also eyeing for a National Center for PWD Medical Care and Research and a National Database of Households, which will include a subsector for PWDs and persons needing lifelong special care.

"The institutes will work with the barangays, barangay health centers, and barangay health care workers for a detailed house-to-house inventory of all PWDs, persons with mental health conditions, and others with special care needs," he said.

"No one should be left behind or hidden at home. We will integrate them with the rest of their neighbors," the neophyte senator added.

The national center and the LGU institutes will have new plantilla positions of healthcare professionals, trained caregivers, technicians, and support staff, according to Tulfo.

Further, Tulfo said he would file a legislation that will address low salaries and insufficient benefits of health professionals and caregivers in the country.

He also said the system within PhilHealth should be fixed.

"There are just too many anomalies and embedded corruption in its system. In addition to the conduct of COA (Commission on Audit) regular and special audits, we will also push for forensic third-party audits by our country’s leading audit firms," Tulfo said.—AOL, GMA News