The city council has approved Ordinance 10, s. 2023 or the “Libreng Gamot para sa Masa: Free Maintenance Medicine Ordinance of the City of Baguio” to be funded from the city’s general fund.
The ordinance tasks the City Health Services Office to provide maintenance medicines to clients who have diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HPN) regardless of age. The only requirement is for the clients to enroll in the HPN/DM club in their respective health centers to avail of the service.
These maintenance drugs for chronic and long-term conditions taken on a regular and recurring basis include those used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, and diabetes, which many persons or individuals cannot afford to buy especially that it shall be taken on a long period of time.
For the efficient implementation of the ordinance, the City Social Welfare and Development Office shall provide to the CHSO the list of indigent residents as beneficiaries based on the result of list. The CSWDO shall likewise issue a certificate of indigency to other qualified clients who are not included in the issued list.
The CHSO shall issue a medical card to all qualified residents in need of maintenance drugs after proper examination; formulate the guidelines for the qualification and procedure for the issuance of the medical card to indigent residents; facilitate the regular procurement and uninterrupted dispensing of maintenance medicines to beneficiaries; conduct free regular check-up to beneficiaries availing free maintenance medicines; and conduct home check-up in coordination with the concerned barangay health workers, especially to bedridden residents.
Clients assessed by the CHSO needing further assistance or those whose prescribed medications are not included in the list of free medicines provided by the city can be referred to the CSWDO for provision of financial assistance and other support services.
The implementing rules and regulations of the ordinance in accordance with the guidelines of the “Universal Health Care Act” shall be prepared by the CHSO.
A copy of the ordinance was submitted to Mayor Benjamin Magalong for his signature.
The city council through Resolution 61, s. 2023 has urged all youths aged 15 to 17 years old in the city to participate in the Commission on Elections’ registration for new voters in the upcoming October 2023 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Penned by Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales, SK Federation president, the resolution stated only around 60,941 of 15 to 17 years old and 127,638 aged 18 years old and above were registered by the Comelec offices throughout the country, which is far below its target of 1.5 million registrants before the deadline on Jan. 31.
The appeal is pursuant to the Philippine Youth Development Plan and as mandated by the SK Reform Act of 2015 as amended by Republic Act 11768, which provides, among other things, for the revitalization of youth participation in local governance.
The resolution also encouraged SK officials to conduct information and education campaign in their respective barangays relative to the objectives of youth voter’s registration.
In Resolution 48, s. 2023, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board was urged to formulate guidelines for booking fees and other charges for transport network companies and transport network vehicle services, and for its regional office to conduct intensive IEC on the online digital platform of hailing or riding a taxi for its effective implementation in the city.
Five exemplary individuals were congratulated and commended in separate resolutions for their excellent performances and achievements.
They are Mayor Magalong for being awarded the University of the Philippines President’s Oblation Medal during the 2nd Gawad Oblation last Jan. 17 and his recognition as fourth among the top performing mayors in the country by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc.; Maria Jonah Divina “Ponay” Bajum Draculan for her grand winner crown in the Miss Model Search International 2023 held in VHT Movie Studio 12 District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last Jan; 7; Narcilisa Ponase Talipnao of the University of Baguio for topping the December 2022 Criminology Licensure Examination with a rating of 91.60 percent; and the Ramos Family composed of triathletes Jet Karl, Lou Ann, Josh, Dash Karl and Euan Arrow of Barangay Camp 7 for their achievements and performances in local, regional, national, and international triathlon competitions.
The city council through Resolution 62, s. 2023 honored another Baguio centenarian, Felisa O. Montemayor, who was born on Jan. 30, 1923 in Peňaranda, Nueva Ecija and the third of seven siblings.
She is a dressmaker and married at the age of 24 in 1946 to then 36 years old, the late Florentino Montemayor, a mechanical engineer at the Shell Pilipinas who transferred to the Bureau of Public Highways. They were blessed with seven children, six boys and one girl, four of whom are residing overseas while the other three are in the country.
They acquired a property home at T. Bugallon Street, East Modern Site, Aurora Hill where Felisa stays up to the present. She receives regular financial support from her children and a survivorship pension from the Social Security System.
Felisa eats anything in moderation, more on seafoods and fruits, and regularly drinks milk and water. She is a workaholic and still strong to take care of herself. She can still manage to go out and attend Sunday mass, to the market, and the barangay hall accompanied by her caregiver. Her memory is still sharp and can recall some details of her younger life.
Under the Centenarian Act of 2016, an eligible beneficiary shall receive a P100,000 cash gift from the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development Centenarian Program, and such additional privileges from the city government in accordance with Ordinance 45, s. 2013, as amended by Ordinance 10, s. 2022.
April 19, 2024
