The Senate on Wednesday formally accepted a fully equipped mobile clinic from the Department of Health (DOH) to help deliver basic healthcare services to underserved communities.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa led the turnover ceremony at the Senate Grounds. Sotto thanked the DOH, the Senate Public Assistance Office (SPAO) and the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. for making the project possible.
The initiative was first proposed by former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III when he was Minority Leader.
“This project embodies our commitment to public service that goes beyond the walls of the Senate. The Senate Mobile Clinic will bring healthcare closer to the people —bringing hope, compassion, and assurance that public service is alive and mobile,” Sotto said.
The mobile clinic, equipped with an X-ray machine, blood testing facilities, and other diagnostic tools, will be supervised by the SPAO and will be deployed to communities to provide preventive, diagnostic, and emergency health services free of charge.
Sotto said the project symbolizes the Senate’s continuing effort to make social services more accessible.
“This is not just about bringing equipment closer to the people. It’s about bringing hope, compassion, and the assurance that public service is alive and mobile,” he said.
Also present were Kathryna Yu-Pimentel representing the former senator; DOH Undersecretaries Dr. Gregorio Murillo and Dr. Emmie Chiong; DOH Director Dr. Lester Tan; SSFI Executive Director Kath Pimentel; Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr.; SPAO Director General Lino Ong; and Senate Medical Bureau Chief Dr. Renato Sison.
Ong said the mobile clinic would help extend healthcare to Filipinos who cannot easily access medical facilities.
“The mobile clinic will allow us to reach more Filipinos who may not have the means to seek medical help,” he said.
He added the Senate launched “Senate Assist,” an online platform that simplifies applications for medical and social services, allowing Filipinos anywhere in the world to request assistance. (PNA)