Manila, Sept. 14 -- 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 a provincial government statement Sunday.

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...