Bangsamoro Health Care Subsidy Program bill gains support in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY — Several groups in Lanao del Sur expressed their support for Parliament Bill No. 24, or the Bangsamoro Health Care Subsidy Program, which aims to address the healthcare needs of conflict-affected populations in the region.

PB No. 24, principally authored by Deputy Speaker Atty. Laisa Alamia, a human rights lawyer, seeks to provide specialized healthcare services to individuals directly affected by violent conflict and human rights abuses.

The proposed measure, which also seeks to establish a comprehensive health and social protection program, has garnered strong support for its potential to uplift the region’s conflict-affected population, enabling them to lead decent lives while accessing quality and affordable health care services.

PB No. 24 targets addressing the healthcare needs of former combatants and their dependents, victims of human rights violations, and individuals displaced by armed conflict or clan feuds in the BARMM.

PB No. 24 has five key components, including the establishment of a health card system to provide subsidized health care services; the creation of an efficient network of institutional health care providers; the contracting of private health care facilities through a fair and equitable expense-sharing scheme; the improvement of the public health facilities in the region; and sustainable funding through earmarked revenue or shares from the exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources.

Stakeholders representing various sectors, including government and non-government organizations, academic and health institutions, civil society groups, and key groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), participated in the recent public hearing.

Dr. Najib Abdullah, speaking on behalf of the private sector, emphasized the potential operational relief for private hospitals with the bill’s passage.

Director Atty. Nasifah Abolais-Langlang of the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission in Lanao del Sur lauded the inclusion of victims of human rights violations in the bill’s provisions but suggested that alleged victims, particularly women and children, be given special consideration.

Meanwhile, Atty. Norhabib Bin Suod Barodi, Dean of MSU-Marawi’s College of Law, said PB No. 24 is a “tangible gesture” of the Bangsamoro government’s commitment to marginalized groups.

However, some recommended the inclusion of other marginalized sectors and Bangsamoro individuals residing outside the region as covered beneficiaries of the bill.

Atty. Alamia, consistent in her advocacy for transitional justice and reconciliation mechanisms, emphasized the importance of health and education subsidies for former combatants and their families, citing that they provide better opportunities for livelihood and social mobility.

She said these initiatives alleviate the burdens carried by individuals who dedicated themselves to the Bangsamoro struggle as armed revolutionaries. The Bangsamoro people have fought long and hard for their right to self-determination, and it is our responsibility to ensure that their efforts will not be wasted,” she said.

Under the bill, the Ministry of Health will be in charge of overseeing the program’s implementation. The MOH may also conduct studies to explore expanding the bill’s scope.

COH Chair Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr. said that the committee is set to conclude its public hearings for PB No. 24 in Zamboanga City after consultations in Cotabato City and Marawi City, aiming to solicit input from stakeholders in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)