MAYOR BATAOIL AND LMP PANGASINAN CHAPTER SUPPORTS UHC IMPLEMENTATION IN THE PROVINCE
The League of Municipalities of the Philippines Pangasinan Chapter under the leadership of Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil fully supports the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act in the province of Pangasinan.
In the two-day UHC Leadership and Governance Policy Framework Orientation for Local Chief Executives and Various Stakeholders held at Widus Hotel Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga on May 31 – June 1, 2023 was graced by the two top leaders in the Province of Pangasinan.
During the first day, Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino delivered his opening remarks while Governor Ramon V. Guico III in his speech, pledged his commitment to the success of the implementation of UHC in the province and shared his desire to make the province of Pangasinan the leading LGU in this endeavor through a partnership with the DCI provider in order to jumpstart this newly HC implementation in Pangasinan.
The 44 town with their Mayors, Sangguniang Bayan Chairman on Health and representatives participated in the said event and later signed a Memorandum of Agreement of Inter-LGU Cooperation on the Universal Health Care Act with the purpose of binding the health systems of local governments to become a province-wide health system.
A Pledge of Commitment on the Implementation of the UHC Act was also done by the participants led by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Chairman on Health BM Shiela Marie Baniqued.
A response from LMP Pangasinan Chapter was delivered by the Vice President for External Affairs Manaoag Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario on behalf of Mayor Bataoil who has an equally important prior commitment abroad.
In his message Bataoil said that UHC is a national priority of government to provide quality healthcare services to all individuals, ensuring financial protection and equity. “The progress towards UHC transition has largely been positive; however, to further advance it requires resources that low- and middle-income countries (and LGUs) may struggle to meet. But the need at this time of health crisis is evident, and there is a loud cry from our constituents for immediate intervention, hence this national and local initiative”, he added.
On the second day, Special Assistant to the Governor Von Mark Mendoza opens the session.
The Health financing aspect of the program was discussed by the Senior Vice President, Special Assignment Fund Management Sector of PhilHealth, Mr. Renato Limsiaco while the KonSulTa Package was explained by Dr. Francisco Soria, VP for Quality Assurance Group of PhilHealth.
In closing, BM Jerry Agerico Rosario, SP Vice Chair on Health thanked everyone for their active participation and looking forward for a fruitful and positive outcome of the said program.
The Republic Act No. 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care Act, mandates the institutionalization of health technology assessment (HTA) as a fair and transparent priority setting mechanism that shall be recommendatory to the DOH and PhilHealth for the development of policies and programs, regulation, and the determination of a range of entitlements such as drugs, medicines, pharmaceutical products, other devices, procedures and services. (MIO)
📸MIO/GcRueda
