LGU Catigbian PRO-HEALTH Initiatives

Capt Roberto L. Salinas, PN(Ret), municipal mayor with the local officials and members of the MPOC during the MPOC monthly meeting in Brgy. Maitum, Catigbian, Bohol

LGU Catigbian, one of the pioneering batch of awardees for the Seal of Good Housekeeping Awards and  regional finalist for the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award  2011, once again have shown its own initiative of giving better services to its constituents. On Thursday January 12, 2012, Capt Roberto L. Salinas, PN(Ret), the local chief executive of Catigbian together with the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Reynald Lacea and Municipal Peace and Order Council members handed the key of the Municipal Ambulance to the Punong Barangay of Maitum, Catigbian Bohol. This is one of the initiatives of the LCE that aims to give an easy access of the people to efficient health services. According to Mayor Salinas, one of his governance agenda is the best delivery of health services to the people. Assigning one Ambulance to take post in Barangay Maitum which is one of the farthest barangay in the municipality will be of great help particularly during health related emergencies. He further said that although the LGU has a pending request to PCSO for one ambulance which until now still unanswered, does not hinder him to properly realize the plan of putting an ambulance in the barangay.  Maintenance as well as the honorarium for the driver of the ambulance will be shouldered by the Municipal Local Government Unit of Catigbian. Mr. Hilario Tupas Jr.,  Punong Barangay of Maitum was very grateful to the Mayor’s initiative.  PB Tupas said that it is not only his own barangay that can benefit this program but also the neighboring barangays which is quite far from the town central. Aside from this new development, Mayor Salinas also explained that the ongoing implementation “yellow-card” program which enable indigents in the municipality  avail for free or with discount, depending on its category, the services of the fully-equipped Catigbian Municipal Health Center with Lying-in which is one of the most visited health facility  in the province for benchmarking purposes.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the regular monthly MPOC meeting for the January 2012 was also conducted in Barangay Maitum. It was well participated by all PB’s from the 22 Barangays and key department heads from both local and national offices. The presiding officer, Mayor Salinas made sure that all peace and order matters were being attended to by the council. It was highlighted by the PNP Annual Accomplishment Report rendered by PSI Jonathan Satentes, the new Chief of Police assigned in the LGU  followed by the reporting of the PB’s and key members, as arranged by MLGOO Jun Halasan, the MPOC Secretariat.

The Chairman emphasized that conducting the MPOC meeting at the barangay, which started since 2010, will enable the LCE and the rest of the council members to get the first account of the real situation in the barangay and it will also enhanced barangay leadership, particularly for the Barangay Officials.  Before the meeting is adjourned, the MPOC Chairman gave the Certificate of Appreciation to the host barangay and the 3,000.00 worth of financial support to BPOC.