By CESAR JOLITO III

Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has reaffirmed the full support of the Visayan bloc for Faustino Dy III, citing confidence in his leadership of the House of Representatives, particularly in the passage of the national budget.

Benitez, lead convenor of the Visayan Bloc, emphasized that the General Appropriations Act underwent months of thorough deliberations and consultations.

He noted that under Dy’s leadership, reforms were implemented to ensure a more transparent and equitable budgeting process aligned with the needs of Filipinos.

The Bacolod lawmaker also highlighted efforts within the chamber to rebuild public trust, saying Dy encouraged open dialogue among members to address concerns constructively while staying focused on legislative responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Benitez met with Dr. Edwin Mercado of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday, March 17, to discuss key healthcare initiatives.

Among the measures tackled were the implementation of zero balance billing in public hospitals and the expansion of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), both aimed at reducing the financial burden on patients.

Benitez said efforts will continue to strengthen collaboration with PhilHealth to advance programs that make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and responsive to the needs of every Filipino./CJ, WDJ