BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC) endorsed the proposed Health Resilience System Project (HRSP) and the Accelerating Expansion and Sustainability of Health Services for Universal Health Care (ACCESS UHC): Strengthening Capacity for Multi-Specialty Health Services during its meeting on May 14, 2024 in Baguio City.
Dr. Alexei P. Marrero from the Cordillera office of the Department of Health (DOH) presented the HRSP, which aims to provide infrastructure and equipment for public laboratories, and training programs for Emergency Surveillance Units (ESUs) and Emergency Response Teams (ERTs). The project will also establish the “Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services Centers” (BUCAS) and a contingency component to respond to future pandemics.
This initiative aligns with the DOH’s 8-point agenda implementing the UHC Act, and Chapter 4 of the Cordillera Regional Development Plan, which intends to promote human capital and social development.
The project is set to commence in 2025 and will cover 25 provinces in 13 regions in the country and two provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. In the Cordillera, Kalinga and Mountain Province are the provinces that will benefit from the project.
Dr. Ricardo B. Runez, Medical Center Chief of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) gave an overview of the ACCESS UHC. This aims to enhance the BGHMC’s capacity to offer high-quality healthcare by providing equipment for its multi-specialty centers.
NEDA-CAR’s Leonarda Lingayo and OIC-Assistant Regional Dir. Jose H. Dado, Jr. presented the comments and recommendations based on the Project Evaluation Report.
The endorsement of these projects marks a significant step toward improving health care and infrastructure in the Cordillera. The HRSP is proposed for World Bank’s funding while the ACCESS UHC is proposed to the Asian Development Bank.
The meeting was presided over by Private Sector Representative Arnel M. Cabanisas, Co-Chairperson of the Committee. Mayor Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos of La Paz, Abra serves as Chairperson of the RSDC, while NEDA Regional Dir. Susan A. Sumbeling serves as the Vice-Chairperson. By Jocelyn A. Nique