Treñas vows to continue predecessor’s pro-poor programs
Providing more medical and health assistance to city’s indigent families is one of the top priorities of newly-elected congressman and outgoing city mayor Jerry Treñas.
Upon assumption of office on July 1, Treñas vows to continue the pro-poor medical and health program of his predecessor Raul Gonzalez Jr. – who is also his political opponent in the lone district of Iloilo City during the recent election.
The congressional medical referral program using an allocation from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the congressional pork barrel fund was started by Gonzalez Jr. in 2004 after his first election as city solon.
Treñas admitted that he does not see anything wrong with the program funded by PDAF to help indigent families seeking medical attention in hospitals and for the purchase of medicines.
The congressman-elect said he is willing to continue the program in order to serve the medical needs of the city’s urban poor in 180 barangays.
Treñas said he hopes to enhance the program with an expanded mechanism that will serve more indigent families and the urban poor in seeking medical services through the PDAF.
Treñas was city mayor since 2001 and he started the implementation of a financial assistance program to indigent families for their medical needs through the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The program has since grown and more than 200 urban poor individuals are served daily with financial assistance from Monday to Friday at the city hall.
On the other hand, a congressman is entitled to P70 million PDAF every year on top of congressional insertions for bigger projects such as infrastructures. The P70 million PDAF is allocated to several local development projects on health, education, social services, livelihood opportunities, congressional district office and other local infrastructures.
