To underscore the purported urgent nature of the DAP projects, Aquino shared a text message he got: “On this note, allow me to share a text message I received in the last week. It reads: “The politicians are making fiesta regarding DAP; but to our simple non-legalistic mind, it is like a motorist who parked in a ‘no parking zone’ because he had to rush to save the life of an accident victim, which has more value. I’m praying hard that these people will see the good of the people rather than their own ambition.”
“To this I replied: I think the situation now is similar to what you mentioned, and it might be even worse. I am after all being arrested for parking in an area that up to now hasn’t yet been declared a no-parking zone. Is this reasonable?”
In response to public demand for an accounting of DAP funds, Malacañang released a list containing 116 projects totaling P167, 061,410,000.00. The list said amount released was P144, 378,303,000.
No. 15 of that list was LCOP (Lung Center of the Philippines) titled “Bio-Regenerative Technology Program.”
The description: “To fund the Bio-Regenerative Program aimed at harnessing stem cell research and technology to reconstruct new healthy cells, replacing cancer or dead cells.”
Reacting to that item, Philippine College of Physicians headed by Dr. Tony Leachon issued a statement expressing “ dismay and sadness over the priority funding of P70 million from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) that went to stem-cell research when the money should have been spent for more urgent and vital healthcare needs. “
The PCP said, “Although, the stem cell treatment can be an innovative medicine, it is not urgent for the government to fund research or harness ways to expedite its practice…Stem cell therapy – an untested, expensive and experimental therapy and doing research on it – is not a national priority in all angles. P70 million DAP money can go a long way in helping many poor patients rather than on unproven therapy that will benefit only a few Filipinos?”
The PCP cited more urgent needs related to health: “The money could have been used for research on scientifically-proven treatment for fatal noncommunicable diseases , for the creation of a national workforce healthcare plan or for upgrading public hospitals like the Philippine General Hospital , PCMC , Fabella hospital , and other DOH or non DOH public hospitals for the poor. “
Actually Lung Center got a total of P105 million. No. 14 item in the Malacañanng list is also for LCOP. It’s P35 million for Pediatric Pulmonary Program to “cover health care, equipment, supplies and materials needed for the hospital admission and confinement of children from three months to 18 years of age afflicted with lung diseases under the Pediatric Pulmonary Program.”
Danguilan said the P70 million money was used to purchase equipment and supplies for the LCP Molecular Diagnostics and Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory for research “mainly on dendritic cell vaccine for use in cancer treatment, specifically lung cancer.”
“To spend the money wisely, it was decided that pieces of equipment needed for the Bioregenerative Program and the Pediatric Unit could also be used by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory, the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Surgery, the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and the Department of Radiology,” he said.
Having spent the money properly is not the issue in the DAP but it’s unconstitutionality. P70 million for stem research and many more like the P143 million for Commission on Audit’s IT infrastructure program; P20 million for establishment of National Film Archives; P200 million for the transfer of Department of Tourism Office invalidate the emergency illegal parking justification of Aquino.
“To this I replied: I think the situation now is similar to what you mentioned, and it might be even worse. I am after all being arrested for parking in an area that up to now hasn’t yet been declared a no-parking zone. Is this reasonable – See more at: http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2014/07/21/stem-cell-research-and-many-more-in-dbm-list-belie-urgent-reason-for-dap/#more-24015//
Even if it is declared a no parking area it could be even reasonable depending the reason why it was parked there…A friend of mine rushing the Hospital for the early birth of his child can not find any vacant parking lot and just parked his car in a noparking zone near the hospital and got a ticket..he went to Court and explain to the judge the circumstances and after listening to his violation but in a stake of mind that any Father will do the Judge just asked him it it is a boy or a girl and when he said it was a healthy boy, the Judge congratulated him snd strike down the parking fine..and it was the court who let a woman go for exceeding the 50 kms over the posted speed limit when she told the Judge that her Car was soo powerful that when she tried to give it a spurt to safely overtake the other car it just went over the Stunt Driving limit, that for every “Offence there is legal defence” and for every argument there is the counter argument..othewise why do we need too many lawyers and philosophers?
From Joyce Ivan:
“Mayroon palang pera sa stem cell research. Bakit po hindi ilaan sa tamang bagay tulad po ng sinabi ni Dr. T. Leachon.
“Ito po ang kailangan ng mamayang Pilipino. Dahil mahal po sa pribadong ospital sa public hospital sila pumupunta.
“Ito dapat ang bigyan ng pondo para masiayos mabuti ang mga public hospital at mga public health workers tulad ng nurses, dentista at iba pa. Nakailang palit na ng presidente hindi na nabigyan ng tama pondo ang mga pampublikong ospital mas gusto nilang ibenta ito sa mga pribibadong kapitalista para magkakwarta ang mga nakaupo sa pwesto. Ngayun pano nila i-iaudit ang DAP kung malabokung saan ito nagamit.”
The only suggestion and or solution unless there will be a Cha-cha to fix the process by constitutional amendment and changes to the processes is for the Court and the other two Branches of the Government to work together to avoid the crisis that should not have to Happen…since the SC is mandated to review the Legislation After they were enacted into Law for their Constitutionality, it is waste of time and efforts on the Part of the Legislatures to toil for years for the Legislation that will only get Struct down by the COURTS..
And why not before enacting the Bill into Law and or finalizing Projects and Programs that will involve the question of Constitutionality, why not ask for the ” ADVISORY OPINION of the SC and or any competent court in REFERENCE QUESTION as to the constitutionality of the proposed ACT? The same court can not turn around and declare it unconstitutional after it gave it advisory opinion that it was constitutional, can it?
Just Imagine a Piece of Legislation been discussed by the Congress, Debated for decades, and when it finally becomes law it will just get stricken out? Where can the nation go with such process? And there is nothing with Reference Question as the Courts is the institution that can give that Advisory opinion as the Constitutionality of the proposed act and it if there is some part or provision in the Act found wanting it can advise the Legislature or the Executive to FIX THEM before acting on them…
And these hullaballos of who is Right or Wrong, or who is rude and arrogant and who is not should cease…one can be smug, but to be arrogant and rude and better than the other is subject to debate forever.
Joyce Ivan at # 2 the Idea of Private Health care provider is not bad at all as long as they are properly regulated as to their operation and profit…have any idea that the Massive and very Successful Universal Health care we have is mostly PRIVATELY PROVIDED, Publicly funded scheme? that way, the Free Enterprise is alive and well and so is the most affordable tax funded health care where the Private and the Government agree on schedule of fees and even the cost of medications…Think of the names of the Hospitals as St Michael’s, St. Joseph, Mount Sinai, Grace Hospital (Salvation Army) They are all privately operated, publicly funded…and so all Labs and Physicians..Nurses negotiate their salaries and wages with the Govt. …Sometimes this scheme works, sometimes it will be laced with Corruption…but it all depends on the measures built in with the systems and the morality of the population…
I’m for stem cell research. if successful, we may be able to cure diabetes once and for all. our kababayans who are suffering from diabetes deserve cure. sa ngayon, diabetes is mostly managed by taking anti-diabetic drugs and constantly having your blood tested for blood sugar levels, so inconvenient and costly. total cure of diabetes is far from the horizon. already, nationwide, many of our kababayans are joining the ranks of those falling victims to dreaded diabetes. parami ng parami ang bilang nila. marami ang namamatay. with stem cell research, we maybe able to find cure for diabetes and our people need not suffer or die needlessly.
also with stem cell research, we may be able to find cure for parkinson’s disease. so those affected need not suffer ‘shakes’ and weaknesses of the body. those with other kapansanan maybe also be able to lead better lives, maybe able to re-grow or strengthen, and use parts of their bodies previously thought useless. with stem cell treatment, stroke victims might be able to use their limbs again, be mobile again, maybe not move like before they got stroke, but near functional, making their quality of life better. stem cell might even be able to ‘fix’ autism too, find neural pathways in the brain previously blocked. same thing could happend with the deaf.
P70M tapos ito ang resulta…hehehe!
An Experimental Stem Cell Treatment Lead To A Woman Accidentally Growing A Nose On Her Spine |…
http://www.iflscience.com
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Ibinigay na lang sana ang P70M sa PGH hindi ako masyadong magrereklamo kahit labag sa Konstitusyon.
Pero para gastusin ang halagang yan na kahit sa 1st world countries ay palpak ang mga resulta, malaking kawaldasan at kagaguhan!
May inventory na ba ang biniling equipment and supplies para sa stem cell research?
Dioskoday, hindi nga maiayos ang tirahan at buhay ng mga survivors ni Yolanda tapos heto ang P70M na ginastos sa ewan!
Talking of priorities huh!
chi at 6, the woman growing a nose on her spine is not the result of our country’s stem cell experimental treatment. the woman is not a filipino and she was not treated here in our country, the treatment was not done by our doctors. if we have successful stem cell treatment here, our people dont have to travel to other country where they may fall victims to unscrupulous doctors. clinics offering stem cell treatment ought to be regulated in our country, to stop and prevent unlicensed foriegn doctors practicing and harming our own people.
Sample ko lang yan #7.
ang taong hindi gustong itama ang anumang kamalian ay hindi nawawalan ng katwiran. pilit mang ipaunawa ang dapat sanang katanggaptanggap na hakbang ay kung ano anong pag-iwas ang gagawin bilang patunay na para sa kanya ang sinuman ay walang karapatang siya ay punahin kahit maliwanag na mali at naaapekto sa nakararami. dumarating pa ang punto na maghahamon ‘yan ng away pero magtatawag ng kakampi!
Stem cell research is a good project. Nagiisip agad kayo ng masama porke nagpapa-stem cell treatment sina Tanda at Bigote. Do not confuse this laudable project with that those two bad guys who benefited from stem cell treatment.
Let other nations do the research on stem cells and maybe send our reseaechers to those countries to help if any. They have the funds for it. As for the PH, lets focus on other things that are more urgent such as poverty alleviation, education and immediate health needs. How aboit paying attention to the power crisis that we might be facing soon. Anak ng pating, trapik nga lang sa EDSA di na nga mabigyan ng solusyon, stem cell pa ang gustong paginitan.