The provincial government here will expand free healthcare services as part of its flagship Health, Education, Livelihood and Protection (HELP) program.

In an interview on Tuesday, Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas said the national government’s existing health initiatives, such as Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act and “Libreng Laboratoryo, Konsulta, at Gamot Para sa Lahat (LAB for ALL),” will be leveraged to bolster provincial efforts.

He said the provincial government is poised to hire more employees, purchase additional diagnostic equipment and acquire new ambulance units for all district hospitals.

Additionally, Mandanas said his administration is expanding the delivery of more free medical services and free medicines to financially struggling Batangueños.

The governor admitted, however, that expanding healthcare services has been putting a strain on the provincial government’s coffers.

Mandanas made a case for the full implementation of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas-Garcia ruling, which allocated more money to local government units (LGUs).

He emphasized that the landmark ruling was intended to strengthen financial decentralization by giving LGUs a larger share of the taxes collected by national government agencies.

On Feb. 8, the governor inaugurated a new provincial healthcare facility in Bauan, intended to deliver services to the over 90,000 residents of this first-class municipality.

The new facility is equipped with laboratory services that cover clinical microscopy, immunology and serology, complete blood count and blood chemistry, according to the Provincial Information Office.

During the same event, he said that the Lab for All caravan launched by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in the province last year has been extremely helpful. (PNA)