From isolation to inclusion: Agusan Sur LGU expands health services to GIDA town
By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The local government unit (LGU) of La Paz has intensified efforts to make health services more accessible to residents of geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), bringing inclusive care closer to communities long hindered by distance and terrain.
During the Department Information Officer (DIO) Hour segment of DXGP 89.7 Agusan FM, the official radio station of the provincial government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS), two municipal health officials shared the LGU’s initiatives to bridge service gaps in remote barangays. Out of La Paz’s 15 barangays, 10 are classified as GIDAs; several of them are located in mountainous areas with limited access to health facilities.
Doctor Mynard E. Pontillo, a doctor to the barrio, recalled the challenges faced by both health workers and residents in reaching medical services.
“When I started working as a doctor at the barrio, one of the challenges I faced was transportation. To get to the farthest barangays, it would cost me around P2,000 in fare due to the distance and the difficult road to drive. And I was not alone in that struggle. Some residents from poor families would take months just to save enough money for transportation to the nearest health facility,” Pontillo said.
To address this, LGU La Paz launched the Government on Wheels (GOW) program, a mobile initiative that brings the services of the Primary Care Facility (PCF) directly to far-flung barangays. Through GOW, residents benefit from medical consultations, family planning sessions, deworming, and ‘tuli’ (circumcision) missions, among others.
Beyond health care, the program integrates other government services: distribution of seedlings and fertilizer by the Municipal Agriculture Office, feeding and nutrition programs, free haircuts, PhilHealth registration, social support activities, and many more.
Pontillo reported that the GOW has already reached eight of La Paz’s 15 barangays.
“Through this, we aim to make the services enjoyed by residents from the town proper available to those from GIDAs as well,” he emphasized.
Leo K. Pendon, healthcare administrator designate of the La Paz PCF, echoed Pontillo’s message pertaining to inclusive healthcare, especially for underserved communities.
“We have further strengthened our priority programs, particularly in health and wellness, to ensure that essential services reach even the most remote and isolated communities,” Pendon highlighted.
Besides the GOW initiative, patients also commend the Primary Care Facility (PCF) — formerly the rural health unit of the municipality — for being well-equipped and convenient. The upgraded PCF provides a central hub for medical services, easing the burden on residents who previously had to travel long distances for basic health care.
The programs and services underscore the LGU’s commitment to inclusive governance, ensuring that even the most isolated communities are not left behind in accessing essential health and social services. (NJGD, PIA Caraga with a report from the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur)
