Gov. RV Evardone called on local chief executives and health officials to unify their efforts in overcoming persistent geographical and financial barriers to deliver quality medical services across the province.
In his message during the 2026 Universal Health Care Summit, Gov. Evardone underscored the practical difficulties in fully operationalizing the Universal Health Care Act enacted in 2019, noting challenges caused by the province’s geography, which features isolated mountainous areas and islands, as well as limited financial resources for many municipalities and barangays to cover required healthcare expenses.
Beyond geographical isolation, the governor highlighted the steep financial burden the mandate places on smaller local government units.
He noted that many municipalities and barangays currently lack the fiscal capacity to independently shoulder the required healthcare expenditures.
Despite these hurdles, Evardone emphasized the necessity of a unified local healthcare system, urging leaders to shift focus toward preventive medicine and coordinated care.
“Part of UHC is having a unified system and strengthening our local government units’ efforts for preventive measures so that we can address common illnesses that Filipinos encounter,” he said.
“It is very important for us now, and I’m very happy that the municipal mayors are here so that we can have a direction for the province. We have a better referral system, we have better coordination with our local health units so that we can ensure that every Estehanon will have access to quality healthcare.”
To further support the province’s healthcare system, the provincial government outlined several major financial investments, including a ₱500 million major rehabilitation project for the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital, alongside an additional ₱176 million secured specifically for essential medical supplies, drugs, and medicines in district hospitals.
The province is also increasing baseline funding for local medical facilities while requesting supplementary funding from the Department of Health.
Evardone urged mayors, doctors, and health stakeholders to share best practices and apply the strategies discussed in the summit to strengthen primary care and referral networks across Eastern Samar. (SEJ-GBP)
