LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Pangasinan provincial board headed by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. unanimously approved Provincial Resolution No. 1251-2015 in its regular session recently to amend its previous resolution on maternal health care kits.
The amended resolution sought to request the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to provide additional maternal health care kits through the transfer of P62.8 million allotted to Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) for the purchase to be transferred and downloaded to the province.
In the previous resolution the request of P15 million was addressed to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
However, during the latest regular session, amendment was made with a much higher fund allocation this time which translates to more beneficiaries to be served was directed to the PCSO.
The provision of maternity health care kits is aimed to ensure the safety of Pangasinense mothers and their children and help reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rate in the province.
Meanwhile, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. expressed elation over the development as this he said will benefit a great number of pregnant Pangasinense mothers who most need the support of the government.
It can be recalled that the present administration spearheaded by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has focused its maternal thrust to realize “zero mortality” rate in the coming years through the promotion of special projects to include “Anak Ko, Buhay Ko, Mahal Ko” which was conceptualized to be cascaded to all barangays in all 47 municipalities and cities in Pangasinan.
The campaign encourages pregnant mothers to develop good health-seeking behavior and make them become fully aware of the importance of availing at least four pre-natal check-ups in the course of their nine-month pregnancy.
Gov. Espino also endeavored to enhance all 14 government hospitals in Pangasinan which includes provision of birthing facilities to cater to the needs of all expectant mothers.
The provincial government most recent addition in terms of health care thrust is its Point-of-Care program where P60 million has been allocated so that poor pregnant women and other indigent sick Pangasinenses can be enrolled in PhilHealth as soon as they are admitted in any of the 14 government hospitals.
Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., on the other hand, said that request will be directed to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the immediate realignment and transfer of the multi-million funds from the R1MC to the province of Pangasinan.
By Dexter A. See
