Several barangay leaders in Bacolod City and other areas in the province gathered to show their support to Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano during the launching of his re-election bid in Negros Island and the Visayas region at the People's House (Bacolod City Government Center), yesterday.
Paduano was endorsed by Rep. Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3 rd District), actor Gabby Concepcion and other city officials during the launching yesterday. Concepcion said Benitez was his best man when he wed megastar Sharon Cuneta, and they have been helping Abang Lingkod ever since. He is extending his support to the partylist not for political reasons, but because he and Benitez have been friends since they were in the elementary and high school, he said. Benitez said he has suggested to Paduano to make Concepcion an honorary member of Abang Lingkod. Concepcion said he is also endorsing presidential candidate Grace Poe and vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. since they are both his childhood friends. Whatever happened in the past, they had no control of so he believes they should be given a chance, he said. He also entertained the crowd with a few songs during a program that was capped by a fireworks display. A motorcade to the government center yesterday was participated in by Abang Lingod supporters. Paduano said the launch was held simultaneously in Bacolod City, in most towns and cities in Negros Island Region, and in the Panay area. Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the strength of Abang Lingkod is in its performance, not only in infrastructure but in addressing the health needs of the people. Paduano said they will also support Love Negros candidates in the province particularly Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson. He said they held a leaders forum in the Barangay Montevista gym at 2 p.m. yesterday that was attended by several political and family leaders who showed their support for him. The Abang Lingkod Partylist which he represents aims to get another seat in Congress which will require the party to gather about 600,000 votes nationwide, Paduano said. Paduano is the first nominee of Abang Lingkod being the incumbent representative, while Rep. Manuel Iway will be the second nominee and Jeffrey Hidalgo of San Carlos City will be the third in case they will be able get two more seats in Congress. The required votes for three seats is about 1.2 million votes, he said. Meanwhile, Paduano said he has filed a House Bill that will require the national government through the Department of Health to put up at least two hemodialysis machines in all public hospitals in the country within three years as many Filipinos are now suffering from kidney trouble. He was also part of the measure to increase the hemodialysis sessions of kidney patients from 45 to 90 sessions per month which is now being implemented, he said. Paduano said he also discussed with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office the possibility of bringing back the subsidy of P20,000 per quarter for kidney patients. When the session resumes in Congress on May 23, he will file a bill for the acquisition of hemodialysis machines so that the passage can be done either in 16th or 17th Congress, he said. He will also work on the financial assistance of P40,000 per heart patient who needs to undergo heart bypass and other procedures, Paduano added. On the other hand, Familiaran said Paduano was able to convince the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation officials to increase the dialysis sessions of kidney patients from 45 to 90 sessions per year. Familiaran said Paduano is helping him with the resolution he had authored urging congressmen in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental to donate hemodialysis machines to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital after the PhilHealth expanded the coverage for hemodialysis from 45 to 90 sessions per year to lessen the financial burden of its members. * CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star February 10, 2016 sgg
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