Legarda stresses full enforcement of Newborn Screening, PhilHealth coverage, PWD welfare laws

Senator Loren Legarda called on government agencies to fully enforce landmark health and welfare measures she authored, stressing their vital role in safeguarding the rights of Filipinos from birth to adulthood.

Speaking in plenary on December 3, Legarda responded to Senator Raffy Tulfo’s privilege speech on health programs and disability services, reinforcing the call through her own legislative initiatives.

“Ito po ang pagsusuri sa sanggol kaagad pagkapanganak, ang Newborn Screening. Malaking tulong po ito dahil maaga nating natutukoy kung may kapansanan o kondisyon na dapat agad gamutin,” Legarda said, recalling the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9288), which she authored.

She also cited the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9709), crafted in collaboration with Dr. Charlotte Chiong, Dean of the UP College of Medicine.

“Ito naman po ay para sa kapansanan sa pandinig. Kaya po tayo ay tumulong sa UP PGH na magkaroon ng ear department na nagsasagawa ng hearing screening,” she emphasized.

Beyond these measures, Legarda pointed to her continuing work through the amendatory law to the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (RA 10070), the expansion of benefits under RA 10754, and the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all PWDs under RA 11228.

“Ako po ang principal author nito noong 2019. Kaya kung ang mga persons with disabilities ay sakop na ng PhilHealth, dapat masaklaw din ang pag-monitor at mga screening para sa maagang pag-iwas sa kapansanan,” she said.

Legarda reminded agencies of their duty to implement these laws fully, marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3.

“We want to ensure that LGU hospitals, DOH-retained hospitals, and all other facilities actually carry this out, because it is a mandate of the Department of Health. I wanted to place that firmly on record.

She closed by stressing the importance of respectful communication, noting that persons with disabilities must be treated with dignity and addressed using correct language, a principle she said should be embedded in every communications plan. (30)