BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing health and wellness privileges for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and citizens with extreme body malaise in the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated it will be a declared policy of the local government to protect and promote the right to health of senior citizens, PWDs and citizens with extreme body malaise and shall adopt an integrated approach to their health development which shall include, but not limited to, medical treatment and rehabilitation, counselling and timely intervention to arrest disabling conditions.
The ordinance stipulated the local government shall provide a space for a health and wellness center where senior citizens, PWDS and citizens in extreme body malaise can regularly visit for treatment and that health and wellness providers will be invited to provide free treatment with their product line and in exchange for the free treatment, the providers shall be allowed to promote their products free of space rental.
The ordinance added the appropriate memorandum of agreement shall be executed to cover the arrangement with the health and wellness providers.
Section 15, Article 2 provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instil health consciousness among them while Section 11, Article 8 of the Constitution enunciates the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other special services available to all the people at affordable cost, thus, there shall be priority for the needs of the under privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children.
Further, the State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers among other members of the marginalized sector.
Under the general welfare clause of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.
Within their respective territorial jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improved public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residence, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.
The ordinance defined citizens in extreme body malaise to be persons in extreme body pain due to illness such as fibromyalgia, among others.
The ordinance was referred to a committee for study and recommended action.
By Dexter A. See
