Hundreds of health workers and their supporters gathered on September 14 at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City for the national congress and official launch of the Health Workers Partylist. Various unions of hospitals and the 11 chapters of the party attended the meeting. The Health Workers Partylist will participate in the party list elections in 2025.

The party aims to field representatives in Congress to highlight sector issues such as fair wages and benefits for health workers and quality and free health services to citizens.

“Dozens of relief and medical mission activities we have organized only reaffirmed the need for policy changes in order to ensure adequate health service provision to Filipinos especially in times of need,” Dr. Benigno Santi II, Health Workers PartyList President, said.

The party introduced its nominees at the national congress. Its first nominee is Robert Mendoza, a midwife and Alliance of Health Workers national president. Its second nominee is Maristela Abenojar, a nurse and Filipino Nurses United (FNU) president. And the third nominee is Benigno Santi, a radiologist. Six other health workers, nurses, dentists, and doctors were nominated.

“We have proven that through our strong unity and collective action, we were able to fight for our rights. But we will not stop there, we will continue to promote our rights, well-being, welfare [and] the rights of the patients we serve,” first nominee Mendoza said.

The partylist also endorsed the Senate candidacy of Jocelyn Andamo, a nurse and FNU secretary general, and one of the Koalisyong Makabayan candidates. Andamo’s speech expressed her respect and gratitude to her fellow health workers for their determination and support.

The Health Workers Partylist is currently awaiting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision on their motion for reconsideration after it cancelled the partylist’s registration due to a simple technical matter.

Their call: “Stand up, come together, unite with the vast people. Let’s campaign for the Health Workers PartyList in Congress, Nurse Alyn Andamo and 9 more Makabayan in the Senate!”