When I visit Davao City, the city where I grew up, I think about how this big city could afford to put up a so-called international standard-level 911 Center. Makati City calls itself the “business district of the country,” yet they do not have a 911 Center; as is the case with Cebu City, Quezon City, and Manila.

One can only conclude that any development in a community will always depend on leadership – that is non-debatable. Recalling my high school days at Ateneo de Davao University, we were always taught to debate not just for the sake of argument, which is why my lifetime partner is so amused with how I argue concerns within the family.

Take the case of healthcare in this, sometimes “kenkoy,” country of ours.

Politics plays the largest role in almost everything. Many say politicians assume the role of public servant but, behind the scenes, they have vested interests.

Concerns pertaining to healthcare are rarely given much attention. Some sectors even joke the government wants the public to remain ill, in order for them to be dependent on handouts, resulting in these sick communities being grateful to politicians – a sad reality, if true.

In Negros Occidental, a patient from Hinoba-an, located hundreds of kilometers from Bacolod City, is required to take an ambulance for four hours in order to reach medical facilities in the capital city. If government officials sincerely cared about healthcare, it cannot be understood why this situation exists.

Is it impossible to construct hospitals in far-flung districts of the province, especially with so much taxpayer money being spent to fund political dreams? Why do places like Kabankalan City, Hinigaran, Cadiz City, and Escalante City lack complete hospital facilities? Is there a rule stopping politicians from developing a healthier nation?

Yet, billions are spent to re-concrete roads and highways every three years (just before election time).

Even considering the existing hospitals throughout the province, these facilities are still not of a good health care service standard; they seem to be built just for the sake of having one.

It’s difficult to see when elected officials will better serve the people when it appears – the more people are sick, hungry, and poor – politicians gain the most support from lower-income sectors.

Even with a sincere president in office, doing his best to discipline the people, the stubbornness and arrogance of Filipinos still dominate, impeding abilities to attain a better quality life; with the president trying to eradicate the country of illegal drugs, there are still sectors that oppose the effort.

Perhaps it will take another 10 generations before the country sees a set of government leaders who truly care about healthcare.

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This column greets Karen Dinsay, Danny Dangcalan, Angela Mijares, Boy Villavicencio, Paolo Araneta, Richie Gamboa, Atty. Arnel Lapore, Robert Javellana, May Castro, Hazel Ditching, Kate Brios, Junjun Martir, Manny Parroco, Tuting Ong, Alex Morana, and Lito Aves./WDJ