The Local Government of San Gabriel, La Union is a 4th Class Municipality with an estimated population number of 18, 633. It has an estimated land area of 17,553 hectares which is the largest agricultural land in the first district of La Union. It is politically subdivided into 15 barangays, mostly upland areas. With that, the main source of livelihood in the municipality is highland farming.
INNOVATIVENESS OF HEALTH PROGRAMS
According to the LGU, the Women-in-the-Sitios Program this is their most innovative program. As assessed, this program is a best practice of the LGU, however, not quite innovative because there are other constituents that weren’t knowledgeable about the program.Indeed, there are positive behavioral changes in the community. However, there are insufficient quantifiable data that can back up the innovativeness of the project such as distinctiveness and effectiveness to the general constituents.
For the LGU, the sustainability and availability of their blood supply is considered as one of their innovative projects because they were able to sustain blood supply for their constituents. Through massive information and education campaign they were able to encourage donors. In addition, by going in far-flung areas through mobile donation efforts, they were able to gather blood donations from people in barrios. Blood donation was made accessible to the people and blood acquisition also made easy through ITRMC.
The centralized health supply chain management cycle for health logistics is also considered to be one of their best practices. Truly, it can be seen that the actual organization and management of medicines and supplies are handled well and been truthfully and sufficiently given to the barangay health stations (BHS). Also, system of disbursement and replenishment are being established already which make requesting and provision of medicines and supplies easy.
According to the LGU, the Women-in-the-Sitios Program this is their most innovative program. As assessed, this program is a best practice of the LGU, however, not quite innovative because there are other constituents that weren’t knowledgeable about the program.Indeed, there are positive behavioral changes in the community. However, there are insufficient quantifiable data that can back up the innovativeness of the project such as distinctiveness and effectiveness to the general constituents.
For the LGU, the sustainability and availability of their blood supply is considered as one of their innovative projects because they were able to sustain blood supply for their constituents. Through massive information and education campaign they were able to encourage donors. In addition, by going in far-flung areas through mobile donation efforts, they were able to gather blood donations from people in barrios. Blood donation was made accessible to the people and blood acquisition also made easy through ITRMC.
The centralized health supply chain management cycle for health logistics is also considered to be one of their best practices. Truly, it can be seen that the actual organization and management of medicines and supplies are handled well and been truthfully and sufficiently given to the barangay health stations (BHS). Also, system of disbursement and replenishment are being established already which make requesting and provision of medicines and supplies easy.
EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS
The LGU's mobile voluntary blood donation program has been effective because of proper information dissemination of the LGU. With that, even those who are not from San Gabriel are encouraged to donate blood. Also, blood donors who donated previously in blood drives are continuously donating because the LGU sometimes recognize these active blood donors. Furthermore, patients from San Gabriel were able to get bloods easily from Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) without any difficulties such as paying fees or getting other donors to replace the blood. The data about effectiveness istransparently seen in the RHU whereas it indicated the number of blood bags and blood donors thatare accounted for during the blood drives. One can also see the effectiveness of the program when recognitions are given to the LGU such as Sandugo Awards in 2015.
The LGU has its relatively new Rural Health Unit (RHU), complete with facilities and equipment especially for maternal and baby care. In fact, their health team is trained on Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (BEMONC). A sustainable referral system has been established with the nearest regional hospital to attend to extreme cases. There are ambulances that are on-standby with drivers shifting in case of emergency.They also give free conditional newborn screening services for indigent patients with the following conditions: at least four (4) pre- natal check-ups, facility-based delivery, backyard gardening, attended mother’s class and encouraged the husbands to donate blood. During one of the informal interviews with the barangay health worker (BHW), she was able to avail such service. As such, they continually get harvest from the garden required by the LGU. Also, her husband was able to donate blood when a mobile blood donation was conducted in their barangay.
As the flagship program of the LGU, the Women-In-The-Sitios Program aims to address problem of maternal mortality. It can be considered as effective because there has been zero maternal mortality in the LGU since 2009. This is because the women living in the sitios are being educated and empowered through lectures and workshops focusing on priority health concerns. There has been increased account on the facility-based births and it can be said that the women are empowered because of the knowledge and confidence gained during the modules of the WIS program.
The LGU's mobile voluntary blood donation program has been effective because of proper information dissemination of the LGU. With that, even those who are not from San Gabriel are encouraged to donate blood. Also, blood donors who donated previously in blood drives are continuously donating because the LGU sometimes recognize these active blood donors. Furthermore, patients from San Gabriel were able to get bloods easily from Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) without any difficulties such as paying fees or getting other donors to replace the blood. The data about effectiveness istransparently seen in the RHU whereas it indicated the number of blood bags and blood donors thatare accounted for during the blood drives. One can also see the effectiveness of the program when recognitions are given to the LGU such as Sandugo Awards in 2015.
The LGU has its relatively new Rural Health Unit (RHU), complete with facilities and equipment especially for maternal and baby care. In fact, their health team is trained on Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (BEMONC). A sustainable referral system has been established with the nearest regional hospital to attend to extreme cases. There are ambulances that are on-standby with drivers shifting in case of emergency.They also give free conditional newborn screening services for indigent patients with the following conditions: at least four (4) pre- natal check-ups, facility-based delivery, backyard gardening, attended mother’s class and encouraged the husbands to donate blood. During one of the informal interviews with the barangay health worker (BHW), she was able to avail such service. As such, they continually get harvest from the garden required by the LGU. Also, her husband was able to donate blood when a mobile blood donation was conducted in their barangay.
As the flagship program of the LGU, the Women-In-The-Sitios Program aims to address problem of maternal mortality. It can be considered as effective because there has been zero maternal mortality in the LGU since 2009. This is because the women living in the sitios are being educated and empowered through lectures and workshops focusing on priority health concerns. There has been increased account on the facility-based births and it can be said that the women are empowered because of the knowledge and confidence gained during the modules of the WIS program.
HEALTH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
It is commendable that the LGU is eager to seek for more partners like the Ateneo de Manila University and Gawad Kalinga to support programs such as school-based feeding program. They were also able to open partnerships with Relive Kalogris for high calorie milk for malnourished children and JICA for providing stretches of roads and bridges for easy access to far flung areas.
The LGUs’ United States Pacific Partnership is one of the notable initiatives of the LGU in order to improve health care service provision; it is observed that the healthcare staffs are competent and equipped.
Furthermore, according also to the interview, the ratio of the healthcare staffs to the number of constituents to be served is sufficient. The BHWs even said that they don’t have grievances when it comes to their honorariums or incentives. There are also plans to hire encoders to make their database be updated through computerization of records. They are currently doing this effort, as of now, there is one (1) volunteer encoder and there are plans to hire more to make the transition to electronic database and records faster.
In addition, there are also help from the national government for the reinforcement of personnel. In fact, the current MHO, Dr. Juan Alfonso Perez IV is from the Doctors to the Barrio (DTB) of the DOH. However, since he was passionate and dedicated to help in effective and efficient delivery of basic health services, he worked in the LGU to be able to do more.
There are also annual trainings that are given to the healthcare staffs. This is aside from the Department of Health’s (DOH) initiated trainings regionally. The municipality allots a budget for the said training and development.
It is commendable that the LGU is eager to seek for more partners like the Ateneo de Manila University and Gawad Kalinga to support programs such as school-based feeding program. They were also able to open partnerships with Relive Kalogris for high calorie milk for malnourished children and JICA for providing stretches of roads and bridges for easy access to far flung areas.
The LGUs’ United States Pacific Partnership is one of the notable initiatives of the LGU in order to improve health care service provision; it is observed that the healthcare staffs are competent and equipped.
Furthermore, according also to the interview, the ratio of the healthcare staffs to the number of constituents to be served is sufficient. The BHWs even said that they don’t have grievances when it comes to their honorariums or incentives. There are also plans to hire encoders to make their database be updated through computerization of records. They are currently doing this effort, as of now, there is one (1) volunteer encoder and there are plans to hire more to make the transition to electronic database and records faster.
In addition, there are also help from the national government for the reinforcement of personnel. In fact, the current MHO, Dr. Juan Alfonso Perez IV is from the Doctors to the Barrio (DTB) of the DOH. However, since he was passionate and dedicated to help in effective and efficient delivery of basic health services, he worked in the LGU to be able to do more.
There are also annual trainings that are given to the healthcare staffs. This is aside from the Department of Health’s (DOH) initiated trainings regionally. The municipality allots a budget for the said training and development.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN HEALTH
People-centric decision-making is actually happening in the community through the PTU or “Feeling the Pulse of the People.” In this way, the people can voice out their concerns, grievances and suggestions to the LGU. During the interview, many of the respondents attested that the LGU specifically the mayor and the department heads are visiting the barangays to hear the constituents. At the same time, they will also conduct mobile services such as blood donations and free consultations during these events.
Community Engagement can also be seen through the Conditional Newborn Screening and Women-in-the-Sitios because in this way, the LGU provides an avenue to the people to participate in health programs making them to feel included and well taken care of. Also, the Integrated MANCHAN or Maternal Nutrition and Child Health is an important program for the community since it holistically.
People-centric decision-making is actually happening in the community through the PTU or “Feeling the Pulse of the People.” In this way, the people can voice out their concerns, grievances and suggestions to the LGU. During the interview, many of the respondents attested that the LGU specifically the mayor and the department heads are visiting the barangays to hear the constituents. At the same time, they will also conduct mobile services such as blood donations and free consultations during these events.
Community Engagement can also be seen through the Conditional Newborn Screening and Women-in-the-Sitios because in this way, the LGU provides an avenue to the people to participate in health programs making them to feel included and well taken care of. Also, the Integrated MANCHAN or Maternal Nutrition and Child Health is an important program for the community since it holistically.
LOCAL LEADERSHIP
Mayor Herminigildo M. Velasco is the current Local Chief Executive of San Gabriel, La Union. He succeeded his wife, Hon. Divina Daligues-Velasco, who is now elected as Councilor and chairs Health, Women, Family and Social Services committees. Incumbent Mayor Velasco was the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) before he assumed office in 2016. Both the incumbent mayor and former mayor are doctors by profession. They both used their learning from public management and experience in health care provision to do programs for basic health services delivery that are sustainable, with the involvement of stakeholders and people by starting to identify and prioritize problems and issues as a basis for planning and implementation of solutions in the municipality.
They both claimed that their leadership style is empowering constituents by encouraging active participation in the community. Moreover, in a more informal conversation with the constituents, there are also comments that the incumbent mayor is visiting and talking to the people in the community which is called “Panagrikna ti Umili” (PTU) or “Feeling the Pulse of the People.” In this way, the people were able to relay their concerns and suggestions to the mayor. It was observed that the policies and programs that are being crafted are based from the consultations from the members of the community through PTU which makes them included in government process.
Seeing health as a priority is the first step in committing to the advocacy of providing the necessary health services to the Filipino. With the Municipality of San Gabriel's continuous development and systematization of the local government's health services, indeed the hope for a future with well and healthy Filipinos is generously fuelled.
Mayor Herminigildo M. Velasco is the current Local Chief Executive of San Gabriel, La Union. He succeeded his wife, Hon. Divina Daligues-Velasco, who is now elected as Councilor and chairs Health, Women, Family and Social Services committees. Incumbent Mayor Velasco was the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) before he assumed office in 2016. Both the incumbent mayor and former mayor are doctors by profession. They both used their learning from public management and experience in health care provision to do programs for basic health services delivery that are sustainable, with the involvement of stakeholders and people by starting to identify and prioritize problems and issues as a basis for planning and implementation of solutions in the municipality.
They both claimed that their leadership style is empowering constituents by encouraging active participation in the community. Moreover, in a more informal conversation with the constituents, there are also comments that the incumbent mayor is visiting and talking to the people in the community which is called “Panagrikna ti Umili” (PTU) or “Feeling the Pulse of the People.” In this way, the people were able to relay their concerns and suggestions to the mayor. It was observed that the policies and programs that are being crafted are based from the consultations from the members of the community through PTU which makes them included in government process.
Seeing health as a priority is the first step in committing to the advocacy of providing the necessary health services to the Filipino. With the Municipality of San Gabriel's continuous development and systematization of the local government's health services, indeed the hope for a future with well and healthy Filipinos is generously fuelled.
For more information about the CHG Awards. visit the ABOUT THE AWARDS page; for interested applicants of the 2019 awards, please visit the application page on this website.
RSS Feed
