House Deputy Speaker and Congresswoman of the lone district of Antique, Loren Legarda expressed concern over the lack of mental health workers in the country, especially in local government units (LGUs).
In an interview with dzRH's Pangunahing Balita, Legarda, who is among the author of the Mental Care Act, said there are only 0.41% psychiatrists per 100,000 people in the Philippines.
Only 5% of health expenditures are allotted for mental health, she added.
According to Legarda, there should be responsive primary mental health services up to the barangay levels.
Legarda also shared the provision in the Mental Health Act which is to integrate mental health in basic health services, strengthen the information, knowledge, and research on mental health, create a comprehensive system to give response to the psychiatric, neurologic, psycho-social needs of the Filipinos, implement a strategy to promote mental health in the educational institution, workplaces, and community.
First, to file her certificate of candidacy (COC), Legarda seeks to make a Senate comeback in next year's polls.
Before being elected as Antique representative in 2019, she served as Senator for three terms.
