Items filtered by date: March 2022

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 16, 2022) – Dr. Aileen Brion, chief of Sarangani Provincial Hospital (SPH), extends her gratitude to all the provincial officials and stakeholders who played a part for the construction of the SPH East Wing Building during its ceremonial turnover and inauguration on March 14. As a medical doctor who worked in SPH for years, Brion recalled the struggles she has encountered here. “We can do so much but yet we are limited because of the services,” she said. “There are also instances where our referrals are being refused by some hospitals in Gensan and we are always the last priority which breaks our hearts,” Brion added. “But now,” Brion said, through the initiative and leadership of the provincial officials quality, accessible, responsive and equitable health services are “now possible" in Sarangani. (Jake Narte-Joshua John Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 16, 2022) – Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon speaks before guests during the ceremonial turnover and inauguration of the Sarangani Provincial Hospital (SPH) East Wing building on March 14. Solon thanked all the people who extended their effort for the realization of the expansion of the SPH. Solon considered the construction as a miracle “kasi we were able to start this during the heavy times of the pandemic.” The governor also extended his gratitude to all the doctors and staff of the SPH for taking the risk in protecting Sarangani from the threat brought by the Covid-19. “Through your efforts and sacrifices,” Solon said, “na-maintain natin ang pinakamababa na casualty and infection from this pandemic.” He also acknowledged the help of Dr. George P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City for assisting Sarangani in accommodating patience during the peak of the pandemic. “What the rich gets, the poor gets,” which is Governor Solon’s vision for health in Sarangani, was also emphasized during the activity. (Jake Narte-Joshua John Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 15, 2022) – To provide access to affordable, quality, and readily available health service that is suitable to the needs of every Sarangan, some municipal and provincial officials headed by Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) in support to the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act in the province on March 14. Among its salient features are the expansion of population, service, and financial coverage through an array of health system amendments. As one of its implementation sites, Sarangani will be granted with the provision of its primary health services including “laboratory, 8-hours consultation, and other health programs.” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Arvin Alejandro said that through the UHC Act, there will also be an establishment of the “special health fund” which he said, “dito manggagaling ang lahat ng grants ng DOH and other stakeholders, national or international and all the municipalities for the purpose of due healthcare services.” After the ceremonial signing, a Local Health Board meeting was also conducted which was attended by some heads and staff of the Provincial Health Office and Department of Health and stakeholders. (Jake Narte-Joshua John Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 15, 2022) – Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon speaks before guests during the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act in Sarangani on March 14. Solon emphasized that UHC will be a great help in the province “in making our health system stronger and integrated.” Because of the existence of the Covid-19 pandemic, Solon said “it revealed the different vulnerabilities of our health system in Sarangani.” The ceremonial signing was attended by Mayors Maria Theresa Constantino of Malungon, Danny Martinez of Kiamba, and Vic Paul Salarda of Alabel; Vice Mayor Vicitacion Nambatac of Maasim; Board Members Irish Louie Arnado-Beñola and Benjamin Donato; Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Aristides Tan; DOH provincial director Shahrir Dulduco; Provincial Health Office staff; some municipal health officers; and stakeholders. (Jake Narte-Joshua John Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 15, 2022) – Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Ephraim Galzote (left) pays tribute to the lady legislators of Sarangani as he offers a flower to Eleanor Suib, Sangguniang Bayan member of Malapatan, on March 11 during the 2nd Provincial General Assembly of the Lady Local Legislators League (4L) Sarangani Chapter. Along with the gathering is the celebration of International Women’s Month where the lady legislators were serenaded by the rest of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, in honoring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. (Jake Narte-Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 15, 2022) – Vice Governor Elmer de Peralta speaks before league members and guests on March 11 during the 2nd Provincial General Assembly of the Lady Local Legislators League (4L) Sarangani Chapter at the Capitol gym. Guest speaker De Peralta shared the story of how his late mother has inspired him and has played a great impact on his life. He also bared the projects and programs established by the office of the vice governor for the welfare of the women in Sarangani. “I believe this celebration of the Women’s Month along with the assembly of the lady legislators highlights the role of female lawmakers in making sure that there are no gender boundaries in leadership and decision-making,” De Peralta said. (Jake Narte-Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 15, 2022) – Lady legislators from all the seven municipalities of Sarangani convene on March 11 at the Capitol gym for the 2nd Provincial General Assembly of the Lady Local Legislators League (4L) Sarangani Chapter. Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Irish Louie Arnado-Benola (left), 4L president, said “the Lady Local Legislators League of the Philippines is recognized ng DILG na women’s organization. The organization here in Sarangani was established two years ago, so baby steps pa po kami, but in just a span of two years, the 21 members before are now 158 lady legislators across Sarangani.” The 4L consists of barangay councilors, municipal councilors, and other lady legislators, under the leadership of the vice governor and the rest of the SP members. (Jake Narte-Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 15, 2022) - Dr. Roy Ferrer (extreme left), Department of Health (DOH) assistant secretary, together with Dr. Sulpicio Henry Legaspi Jr. (extreme right), DOH XII assistant regional director, and other staff from DOH XII confers with Vice Governor Elmer de Peralta (2nd from right) and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Arvin Alejandro (2nd from left) on March 11 at the Conference Room, JLC Bldg., Capitol grounds. They discussed the vaccination efforts of the province of Sarangani towards achieving the goal of inoculating all the target population. Also included in their discussion was the update of the status of some of the areas in the province that have low vaccination rates, especially those in the far-flung areas, and the interventions to be done to address these concerns. Ferrer said “when Dr. (Secretary) Duque gave the directive for Phase IV of the National Vaccination Day, I really personally requested to be assigned here (in Region XII) so that I can look into, particularly the details of concerns and issues regarding vaccination on all priority groups and booster shots.” After the meeting, the team conducted a “Sugod Bahay” strategy to vaccinate the unvaccinated, and administer booster shots to some. (Jake Narte-Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 15, 2022) - Dr. Roy Ferrer (2nd from right), Department of Health (DOH) assistant secretary, administers Sinovac booster shot to Julito Ildefonso, 76, on March 11 at Barangay Ladol during their “Sugod Bahay” or the house-to-house inoculation strategy to fast-track the vaccination of all the target population in Sarangani. Ferrer was accompanied by Dr. Sulpicio Henry Legaspi Jr. (extreme right), DOH XII assistant regional director, Vice Governor Elmer de Peralta, and the rest of the vaccination team in reaching out to the community and monitoring the ongoing vaccination activity in the area. According to Ferrer, the DOH intends to accelerate the vaccination status of the region, especially through reaching the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) which have low vaccination rates. (Jake Narte-Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 12, 2022) - Vice Governor Elmer De Peralta speaks before guests during the Sarangani Provincial Water Summit 2022 on March 10. De Peralta reported that Sarangani currently has a total of 124,522 households of which 86.53% or 107,527 have been served with safe water. The Vice Governor also emphasized the importance of water which is an important element for hydration and food production. The program also included discussions on the Sarangani baseline data, provincial integrated water security framework and planning, presentation of hydrologic studies of Sarangani watersheds, and proposed Sarangani Integrated water security plan. The event was conducted in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Safe Water Project whose goal is to achieve a water-secure future for the country’s most water-stressed communities. (Jake Narte-Joshua John Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)