Northern samar: Northern Samar is the first province in Eastern Visayas to enact an ordinance institutionalizing the Right to Care initiative, allowing residents to designate a trusted person to represent their healthcare wishes when they are incapable of making decisions for themselves. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (city council) approved the measure on third and final reading during its regular session on Sept. 10,

According to Philippines News Agency, the ordinance, authored by Board Member Emil Ongchuan II, makes Northern Samar the fifth province in the country to adopt the Right to Care initiative. It joins Cavite, Laguna, and Ilocos Sur as provinces that have enacted similar Right to Care ordinances. Cebu also advanced the initiative through an executive order, while several cities nationwide have adopted related measures.

The initiative was first introduced at the local government level by Quezon City in Metro Manila, which launched its Right to Care Card in 2023 and later institutionalized the program through an ordinance. Under the Northern Samar ordinance, residents may designate a trusted individual as their healthcare agent through the Right to Care Card mechanism.

The healthcare agent may communicate the individual's healthcare preferences and make decisions on their behalf when they are no longer capable of communicating or deciding for themselves, particularly during medical emergencies. The provincial government said the measure provides families and healthcare providers with clearer guidance on a patient's wishes during critical situations.

It also recognizes the right of individuals to choose someone they trust, whether a family member, partner, or another person within their support system, to represent their healthcare preferences. The initiative may particularly benefit solo parents, persons with disabilities, common-law partners, LGBTQIA+ individuals, senior citizens, and members of other non-traditional families and vulnerable sectors.

It may also provide additional assurance to families whose loved ones are working or living away from home. The passage of the ordinance followed public hearings and consultations with stakeholders, sectoral representatives, healthcare workers, civil society organizations, and other concerned groups. The provincial government said their inputs helped shape the measure, making it more responsive to the needs of local communities.