Former Senator Juan Flavier dies at 79

Former Senator Juan M. Flavier has passed away Thursday October 30 after succumbing to multiple organ failure due to pneumonia at the age of 79.

Senator Flavier is best known for his comic character and happy disposition in the Senate. He served 2 terms in Senate from 1995 – 2007 and became the man responsible for the enactment of Traditional Medicine Law, the Poverty Alleviation Law, the Clean Air Act, and the Indigenous People’s Rights Act.

Before he became Senator, he was the Department of Health Secretary during the Ramos administration. One of his landmark initiatives is the “Let’s DOH It” campaign and his rigorous anti-HIV campaign using contraceptives which caught the ire of the Catholic church.

Other worthy DOH campaigns that he spearheaded include the Yosi Kadiri campaign, Oplan Alis Disease and the Sangkap Pinoy campaign.

With everything that he does in the government, no one can ever dispute that he’s one great legacy to public service. And with the quality of the Senate we have now, we cannot help but miss someone like Senator Juan Flavier in the halls of that chamber.

Senator Flavier is survived by his wife, Susan, and their four children Jondi, Johnet, James, and Joy with their respective families.