BONTOC, Mountain Province A proud son of Bontoc, General Benjamin Lusad is one of the three Igorot generals serving the Philippine National Police. The other two are generals Francisco Uyami of Ifugao and Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be speaking to our very own people as the province marks a momentous day in its history. I will be there,” Lusad said in accepting the invitation.
Having spent his formative years in Bontoc, Lusad entered the Philippine Military Academy and graduated in 1985.
As a police officer, Lusad has served the region in various capacities. For two years, he was the Provincial PNP Director of Benguet and led the police office to many regional and national awards.
He was then assigned to the Abra Provincial Police Office. It was under his leadership that many private armed groups in the province were neutralized.
With his exemplary accomplishments, he was later on appointed to lead the PNP Ant-Illegal Drugs Special Task Force.
He is now at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame as the executive officer of the Directorate for Operations.
Meanwhile, Provincial Health Officer Nenita Lizardo called on residents of the province to avail of the free medical and dental mission calendared on April 7 and 8 at the Bontoc General Hospital. Included in the two day operation are free medical check-ups, circumcision and general surgery, dental cleaning, dental extraction, and dental restoration.
Lizardo nonetheless said that patients for surgical operations need to be enlisted and screened at the aforesaid hospital on or before April 4. As of press time, only five prospective patients had their names on the roll. “They can always come here any time before the deadline so that we could prepare them for the operation. It is free so they need not to worry on how to pay the doctors. We will only accept walk-in clients for circumcision and dental procedures ,” Lizardo said.
Asked if residents from other provinces could be accommodated, Lizardo explained that priority shall be accorded to the local populace given the limited time. “We accepted clients from other places in past medical missions. We could do the same this year if there will be enough time,” she emphasized.
The two day dental and medical mission is among the activities lined up to celebrate the Mountain Province Foundation Day and the Lang-ay Festival.
By Angel Baybay