A promise to reform the healthcare system in the country.
This is how former Las Piñas City Rep. Cynthia Villar promised to make up for the controversial remark she made about the nurses in the Philippines.
Apologizing to the Filipino nursing community, Villar also sought a dialogue with Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) and other nursing groups on healthcare reform agenda.
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“I truly am sorry for having offended the feelings of your members. It
was never my intention to belittle anyone, least of all, the valiant
members of the nursing profession,” Villar said in a two-page letter
addressed to governing board, officers and staff of PNA.
She
explained the lack of time and the complexity of the issue concerning a
closure order issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) back
in 2005 and 2006 prevented her from answering the question in a clear
and concise manner.
The wife of Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar
blamed the time limit provided for the senatorial candidates to address
the question from the panel in Pagsubok sa mga Kandidato on GMA News TV.
“What
I was trying to say during that media forum was that nursing students
affected by a CHED closure order several years ago deserved concrete and
better career and academic options other than just an abrupt closure of
the institutions that they were currently enrolled in,” Villar
explained.
“At that time, I was part of a legislative oversight
committee that had to intervene to make sure that the welfare and rights
of these students, their parents, and teachers were given sufficient
thought and consideration by CHED and the school owners," she clarified.
The
senatorial aspirant issued the statement after she sparked an online
outrage when she said that "nurses do not have to be that qualified" on
national TV.
Villar, who is running under President Benigno
"Noynoy" Aquino III's coalition, also appealed to Filipino nurses and
nursing students not to judge her based on a comment made under extreme
time pressure.
“It was really difficult to say everything I
wanted to say about the problems confronting our nurses then and now
within one minute and thirty seconds," Villar said.
"I have such a
high regard for nurses wherever they are assigned to serve, which is
why I felt sad for not being able to offer a more comprehensive and
complete answer," she noted.
Villar noted that as early as May
2012, she was already advocating for a ladderized system of curriculum
to help poor nursing students pass the nursing board.
She also underscored her commitment to fight for better wages for government nurses based on a law passed in 2002.
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Villar added the controversy arising from her remarks made her even more zealous about promoting the welfare of Filipino nurses.
“I sincerely want to learn more about the challenges confronting Filipino nurses here and abroad," she said.
"Perhaps,
at the appropriate time and with the help of the PNA and your chapters
worldwide, we could start a dialogue on a common agenda to help our
nurses and improve services and facilities for public health care,” she
added.
