NegOr town mayors pledge to support health program
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 25 (PIA) -- Members of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) in Negros Oriental pledged their committment to support the local implementation of the national government’s universal health care program.
In a special meeting, 23 mayors under the LMP Wednesday passed a “pledge of commitment” in which they vowed to mobilize the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP)-Community Health Team (CHT) in their localities.
KP-CHT is a program spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the delivery of basic health services to the poorest of the poor in the country, by seeing to it that they receive the benefits of health reform and given financial risk protection through PhilHealth.
DOH Region 7 Director Asuncion Anden, in her presentation during the LMP meeting, said the program aims to target poverty-ridden Filipino families based on the National Housing Targeting System-Poverty Reduction report.
Anden urged the LMP mayors to provide a counterpart of P2,000 for the barangay health workers in their areas, as one way of showing their support for the KP-CHT, according to Sibulan Information Officer Concepcion Rosales, who was present in said meeting to represent her municipality.
“The mayors were open to this suggestion and said they will find ways to allot a counterpart fund for their BHWs who will be undertaking the health program in their communities,” said Rosales.
The Department of Interior and Local Government earlier issued memorandum circular no. 2011-145 enjoining mayors to support the KP-CHT program, which is in line with Administrative Order No. 2010-0036 or “The Aquino Health Agenda: Achieving Universal Health Care for All Filipinos.” (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Army assists Canlaon City in eco-tourism campaign
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 25 (PIA) --- A battalion of the Philippine Army here recently led a trek to the Mt. Kanla-on National Park in an effort to promote eco-tourism for Canlaon City’s natural treasure.
The climb up the Kanlaon Volcano is in line with the 11th Infantry “Lapu-Lapu” Battalion’s (11IB) aim of assisting its stakeholder partners in their development initiatives.
The Canlaon City government has been embarking in an eco-tourism campaign for trekkers of Mt. Kanlaon with emphasis on environmental protection and preservation.
“So far, this is the Lapu-Lapu troopers’ fourth trek leading various concerned organizations and individuals coming from all around the country in climbing the beautiful and majestic Mt. Kanla-on,” said Capt. Ariel Quirog of the 11IB in a press statement sent to Philippine Information Agency.
Quirog said trekkers are drawn to the volcano’s crater and they enjoy the “mesmerizing walk over its former crater turned Margaja Valley.”
The battalion last year launched its “Oplan Bayanihan Lifts Mt. Kanlaon” project pushing for the accreditation of the Maput Trail and the licensing and legitimization of local tourist guides and porters.
“This definitely provided additional income to the locals, as well as additional revenues for the city,” said Capt. Quirog.
11IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Wilfredo Isaac earlier pledged his unit’s continous support in facilitating cause-oriented activites for its community stakeholders, particularly in Canlaon City. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)