DOH-Caraga recognizes best performing LGUs
By
Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Jan. 29 (PIA) - The Department of Health-Center for
Health Development (DOH-CHD) Caraga awarded local government units (LGUs) in
Caraga region that shared and worked hard in the delivery of basic health
services and implementation of health programs.
The
province of Surigao del Norte was recognized as the best performing province in
the region and received a plaque, a monetary reward worth P100,000 and a mobile
tablet.
The
province of Agusan del Sur came in second, Agusan del Norte was third while the
province of Surigao del Sur came in fourth, followed by Dinagat Islands where
all received a certificate of recognition.
Meanwhile,
Tubod in Surigao del Norte emerged as the best performing municipality enabling
them to get a plaque and a check worth P50,000. Cabadbaran City was also
declared as the best performing city obtaining a plaque and P75,000 check
reward.
DOH-CHD
Caraga regional director Jose Llacuna, Jr. lauded and appreciated these LGUs
for their genuine commitment in the performance of duties in the communities
and for forging strategies for local health systems.
“We
sincerely thank you for your efforts and we exhort you to continue doing the
same function as health implementers. We can assure that we will journey
together with the DOH in the attainment of the objective of making quality
health services possible,” said Llacuna.
Llacuna
added that the awards and recognition are given in order to leverage LGU
participation in achieving universal health care.
Dr.
Arlene Felizarta, provincial health officer and assistant provincial
administrator for health services and hospital concerns of Surigao del Norte
said that the advocacy and health care initiatives shall continue in their
province so that more people will benefit from it.
“We
will unceasingly work and continue with what has been started and will really
consider the integral components of this LGU scorecard as our basis and guide
for whatever improvements we intend to make,” Felizarta said.
(VLG/JPG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
PDEA-Caraga declares Dinagat Islands as drug-free province
By
Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Jan. 29 (PIA) - After the conduct of thorough
assessment and validation by members of the provincial oversight committee on
barangay drug-clearing program, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) -
Caraga has declared the Dinagat Islands as the first drug-free province in
Caraga region.
According
to PDEA-Caraga regional director Aileen Lovitos, the province, consisting of
seven municipalities and 100 barangays was found to be compliant with the
parameters set forth in declaring a drug-free area.
Lovitos
clarified that based on the parameters set by the dangerous drug board, the
barangays can be declared as drug-free for the non-availability of drug supply;
absence of a drug den, pusher and user; and absence of clandestine drug
laboratory and chemical warehouse or marijuana cultivation site.
Lovitos
further said that the local government units must have an existing anti-drug
campaign programs; community-based rehabilitation center; and education
awareness program as part of the requisite to be recognized as a drug-free
community.
“The
declaration of a certain area as drug-cleared does not mean that we have to
stop from there. The monitoring and campaign against illegal drugs should
continue because if there is resurgence, if there are those who would be into
illegal drugs again, and if there is non-compliance to the drug-clearing
protocols, then these will be the determining factors of drug infestation
recurrence in the barangay,” Lovitos added.
In
2018, the town of Tubod in Surigao del Norte has been declared as drug-cleared
municipality while the ceremonial declaration is also set this year for the
province of Surigao del Sur as the second drug-free province in Caraga.
PDEA-Caraga
is continuously monitoring and validating the personalities included in the
watch list. And if confirmed to have been involved in the illegal drug
activities, an anti-illegal drug operation will be done to apprehend them.
At
present, PDEA-Caraga is intensifying its campaign against illegal drugs and
even increasing the manpower resource with its ongoing recruitment of drug
enforcement officers.
Lovitos
gladly announced also during the recent conduct of 4th Regional Inter-Agency
Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs Coordinating Group (RICG) Meeting that
PDEA-Caraga, with the support of its partner stakeholders, has topped in the
entire country in terms of barangay drug clearing program implementation
wherein over 600 barangays have already been declared as drug-cleared.
(VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
