MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda has called on government agencies to fully enforce key health and welfare laws she authored, underscoring their role in protecting Filipinos from birth through adulthood.

Speaking in plenary on December 3 in response to Senator Raffy Tulfo’s privilege speech on health programs and disability services, Legarda highlighted the importance of several measures she introduced to strengthen early detection and long-term support for persons with disabilities.

“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,” she said, referring to the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9288).

She also cited the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9709), which she crafted 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 added.

Legarda pointed to her continuing work behind the amendatory law to the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (RA 10070), the expansion of benefits under RA 10754, and the law mandating PhilHealth coverage for all persons with disabilities 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.

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

“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 said.

She ended by emphasizing respectful communication toward persons with disabilities, saying they must be treated with dignity and addressed using appropriate language in all communication efforts.