Photo courtesy of Norther Samar LGU
Residents of Northern Samar will be able to name a person they trust to make healthcare decisions for them if illness or an emergency leaves them unable to communicate their wishes.
The policy was established through a Right to Care ordinance approved on third and final reading by the provincial board on Sept. 10, making Northern Samar the first province in Eastern Visayas to institutionalize the initiative.
Board Member Emil Ongchuan II authored the measure, which introduces a Right to Care Card that residents may use to designate their chosen healthcare agent.
Once a patient becomes incapable of communicating or deciding, the designated person may relay the patient’s healthcare preferences and act on their behalf in medical matters covered by the program.
Provincial officials said the arrangement could reduce uncertainty for healthcare workers and families confronted with urgent decisions when a patient cannot personally provide instructions.
The measure also allows a resident to choose someone from outside the traditional family structure, including a partner or another trusted member of the person’s support network. Officials said this could be particularly useful for solo parents, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, common-law partners and LGBTQIA+ residents.
Northern Samar is the fifth Philippine province reported to have adopted the initiative. Similar ordinances have been enacted in Cavite, Laguna and Ilocos Sur, while Cebu pursued the policy through an executive order. Quezon City pioneered the Right to Care Card at the local government level in 2023 before subsequently institutionalizing it.
Before its passage, the Northern Samar proposal went through public hearings and consultations involving healthcare professionals, civil society organizations and representatives of different sectors. The provincial government said feedback gathered during those discussions was incorporated into the measure.