DOH strengthens Universal Health Care approach
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga Regional Office headed by Regional Director Leonita Gorgolon bared that DOH is strengthening its Universal Health Care approach for all Filipinos especially in Caraga.
This was learned during the recently held Regional Development Council – Social Development Committee (RDC-SDC) Meeting chaired by Dir. Gorgolon, where focal persons from the government agencies and representatives from the local government units attended.
According to Dr. Ceasar Cassion of DOH, the Universal Health Care is an approach that aims to address inequities in health outcomes by ensuring that all Filipinos, especially those belonging to the lowest two income quintiles have equitable access to quality health care.
With this approach, DOH looks into the six instruments which needs to be monitored – Health Financing; Policy Standards and Regulation; Health Information; Service Delivery; Health Human Resource; and Governance for Health.
“In Universal Health Care, DOH implements the three strategic thrusts: Improve financial risk protection through improvements in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) benefit delivery; Achieve health-related Millennium Development Goal – Max (MDG-Max) targets; and Improve access to quality health care facilities,” Cassion said.
Said thrusts are based on President Benigno Aquino III’s Health Agenda (Achieving Health Care for All Filipinos or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan): Rapid Expansion in NHIP enrollment and benefit delivery using national subsidies for the poorest families; Improved access to quality hospitals and health care facilities through accelerated upgrading of public health facilities; and Attainment of health related MDGs by applying all effort and resources in localities with high concentration of families unable to receive critical public health services (GIDA).
Cassion also said DOH is undergoing the following financial risk protection strategies: Increasing resources for health; sustaining membership in social health insurance for all Filipinos; Allocating resources according to most appropriate financing agent; Shifting to new provider payment mechanisms; and Securing fiscal autonomy of health facilities.
“To achieve the MDGmax, DOH is deploying Community Health Teams; Utilizing the life course approach in providing needed services to family planning, ante-natal care, delivery in health facilities, essential newborn and immediate postpartum care, and Garantisadong Pambata package for children 0-14 years of age,” emphasized Cassion.
With this, DOH targets to achieve an improved overall health status of Filipinos, reduced out of pocket expenditures, and an improved client satisfaction and responsiveness of the health system. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga Regional Office headed by Regional Director Leonita Gorgolon bared that DOH is strengthening its Universal Health Care approach for all Filipinos especially in Caraga.
This was learned during the recently held Regional Development Council – Social Development Committee (RDC-SDC) Meeting chaired by Dir. Gorgolon, where focal persons from the government agencies and representatives from the local government units attended.
According to Dr. Ceasar Cassion of DOH, the Universal Health Care is an approach that aims to address inequities in health outcomes by ensuring that all Filipinos, especially those belonging to the lowest two income quintiles have equitable access to quality health care.
With this approach, DOH looks into the six instruments which needs to be monitored – Health Financing; Policy Standards and Regulation; Health Information; Service Delivery; Health Human Resource; and Governance for Health.
“In Universal Health Care, DOH implements the three strategic thrusts: Improve financial risk protection through improvements in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) benefit delivery; Achieve health-related Millennium Development Goal – Max (MDG-Max) targets; and Improve access to quality health care facilities,” Cassion said.
Said thrusts are based on President Benigno Aquino III’s Health Agenda (Achieving Health Care for All Filipinos or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan): Rapid Expansion in NHIP enrollment and benefit delivery using national subsidies for the poorest families; Improved access to quality hospitals and health care facilities through accelerated upgrading of public health facilities; and Attainment of health related MDGs by applying all effort and resources in localities with high concentration of families unable to receive critical public health services (GIDA).
Cassion also said DOH is undergoing the following financial risk protection strategies: Increasing resources for health; sustaining membership in social health insurance for all Filipinos; Allocating resources according to most appropriate financing agent; Shifting to new provider payment mechanisms; and Securing fiscal autonomy of health facilities.
“To achieve the MDGmax, DOH is deploying Community Health Teams; Utilizing the life course approach in providing needed services to family planning, ante-natal care, delivery in health facilities, essential newborn and immediate postpartum care, and Garantisadong Pambata package for children 0-14 years of age,” emphasized Cassion.
With this, DOH targets to achieve an improved overall health status of Filipinos, reduced out of pocket expenditures, and an improved client satisfaction and responsiveness of the health system. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Bislig City to celebrate its 11th Charter Day; opens photo contest
by Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) –- The city government of Bislig, Surigao del Sur led Mayor Librado Navarro will be celebrating its 11th Charter Day come September 14-15, 2011 and will be launching its 1st LIB’s Photo Contest.
According to Bislig City Information Officer Carlito Abar, the competition on photography welcomes professional photographers all over the Philippines. All photos must be of Bislig City’s tourist destinations identified by the organizers during the said dates.
On Sept. 14, participants of the photo contest will be taking pictures at the Tinuy-an Falls, Hinayacan Cave, and Baywalk while on Sept. 15, they are scheduled to take pictures at the Hagonoy Island.
“The interest of this contest focuses on images that showcase Bislig City’s one (1) major tourist spot and three (3) minor tourist destinations. We are inviting photography enthusiasts to join our “Photo Contest” for Bislig City, a rich city in ecological treasures… Come now and explore the beauty and wonder of Bislig City,” Abar said.
The contest is open to Filipino professional photographers, 18 years and above. While the contest is not limited to the number of participants, however, only the 1st Ten (10) participants, who are non Bislig residents who register first can avail of the “early birds” freebies of two (2) days free accommodation.
Abar also bared that interested participants are required to come and register on Sept. 14, 8:00am at the 3/F Kamayo Hall, Bislig City. Participants shall provide for their own equipment like camera, USB, CD, Laptop, and others. The organizer shall provide the transportation from Bislig City Hall to site/areas for pictorial as scheduled.
An Info Tech Personnel shall be assigned to gather and process the photo entries.
The guidelines of the photo contest are:
1) Photos must be taken by the participants from the natural landscape of identified tourist destination areas during the scheduled on-site pictorial only; 2) Only one picture entry per sight in each identified tourist destination areas/natural landscape shall be submitted by the participants every after pictorial session; 3) Only raw images are considered valid entry; 4) All photos should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared; 5) Post processing is strictly not allowed, adjustment of picture color alteration and sharpening through adobe photoshop or other photography enhancement software will automatically disqualify the entry; 6) Images that do not meet the requirements or deviates from the entry rules may or may not be judged at the judging panel’s sole dicretion; 7) Official entry must have a 300dpi/large format image size, no film-base camera; 8) Identifying marks, signs and address or other marking such as date or time stamps on the photo is not allowed; 9) No collages of photos; 10) The decision of the Board of Judges is final and irrevocable; and 11) All official entries (winning and non-winning) shall become the exclusive property of the organizer.
2) Criteria for judging are as follows: Originality – 10%; Photo Composition – 40%; Technical Excellence – 30%; Artistic Merit – 10%; and Overall Impact – 10%, a total of 100%.
First prize winner will receive Php 8,000.00; 2nd prize – Php 5,000.00; 3rd prize – Php 3,000.00 while consolation prizes will be given to seven winners amounting to Php 500.00 each. All winners will also receive certificates of recognition.
For more details or inquiries on the said event, interested party may contact Ms. Laine S. Elechicon, Admin. Officer of Bislig City Information Office at cellphone No.0949-1989277 . (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Beneficiaries say Pantawid Pamilya helps strengthen family relationship
by Stella Maris V. Barcelon
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -Beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya who guested in a local radio station recently shared how the program strengthened their family relationships.
In two separate occasions, the beneficiaries proudly revelaed what they have learned during their Family Development Sessions. “Dako og tabang ang programa sa amo, dili lang sa pinansyal nga bahin kay aduna man kami FDS o Family Development Sessions, diha among mas nakat-unan unsaon nga mahimo kaming mas maayo nga ginikanan sa among mga anak ug unsaon ang sakto nga pagdala sa pamilya (The program is a big help to us, not only in the financial aspect because we have this FDS where we learn how to become a more responsible parents to our children),” Remely Salazar said.
Another beneficiary, Rose Gregay also expressed that the grants they get from the program help their children get basic education.
Other beneficiaries who also shared the same experiences with Remely and Rose were Francisca Carbonila, Papias Josol, and Ligaya Casindac.
The radio guesting also became a venue in addressing and clarifying issues and concerns from the listeners through calls and texts.
Queries about inclusion and exclusion, varied amount received and other issues were answered by the Regional Program Coordinator Alma Patron; Regional Information Officer Leah T. Quintana; Information Officer Stella Maris V. Barcelon; Social Welfare Officer III for Agusan del Norte Hazel Castillo; and City Link Officer Leila Perez. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
by Stella Maris V. Barcelon
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -Beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya who guested in a local radio station recently shared how the program strengthened their family relationships.
In two separate occasions, the beneficiaries proudly revelaed what they have learned during their Family Development Sessions. “Dako og tabang ang programa sa amo, dili lang sa pinansyal nga bahin kay aduna man kami FDS o Family Development Sessions, diha among mas nakat-unan unsaon nga mahimo kaming mas maayo nga ginikanan sa among mga anak ug unsaon ang sakto nga pagdala sa pamilya (The program is a big help to us, not only in the financial aspect because we have this FDS where we learn how to become a more responsible parents to our children),” Remely Salazar said.
Another beneficiary, Rose Gregay also expressed that the grants they get from the program help their children get basic education.
Other beneficiaries who also shared the same experiences with Remely and Rose were Francisca Carbonila, Papias Josol, and Ligaya Casindac.
The radio guesting also became a venue in addressing and clarifying issues and concerns from the listeners through calls and texts.
Queries about inclusion and exclusion, varied amount received and other issues were answered by the Regional Program Coordinator Alma Patron; Regional Information Officer Leah T. Quintana; Information Officer Stella Maris V. Barcelon; Social Welfare Officer III for Agusan del Norte Hazel Castillo; and City Link Officer Leila Perez. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD-Caraga workers attend roll-out training on Social Marketing
by Stella Maris V. Barcelon
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- The Pantawid Pamilya Municipal Link Officers (MLOs), SEA-K Project Development Officers (PDOs), and Convergence PDOs assigned in Agusan provinces attended the 3-day roll-out training on social case management held recently at Balanghai Hotel, this city.
The said activity was done to familiarize field workers on Social Welfare Indicator (SWI), a tool that will help them identify their client’s needs, which will be the basis for intervention planning. The activity also trained the field workers as case managers on how to establish relationships, assess complex problems, and select problem-solving interventions and help clients function effectively.
Part of the training was the participants’ exposure to the field to administer SWI in barangays Obrero and Doongan in Butuan City.
“The activity is very significant to us; it help us understand the interviewing process and shows us the different techniques to effectively conduct the SWI.” says Jay Tejada, Pantawid Pamilya MLO of San Luis, Agusan del Sur. A total number of 123 participants attended the activity.
Earlier, the workers assigned in Surigao provinces and Dinagat Islands also underwent the same training at Almont Beach Resort Hotel in Surigao City. In her message, Director Mercedita P. Jabagat emphasized that all workers must be knowledgeable about all the systems employed by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program – Beneficiary Update System, Grievance Redress System, and Compliance Verification System.
Director Jabagat also encouraged the workers to be committed and competent in carrying out their responsibilities to be able to serve the people efficiently and effectively. (Social Marketing Unit, DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
