BALANGA CITY– The Provincial Government of Bataan (PGB), through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) formally launched Thursday, July 18, the “One Bataan Seal of Healthy Barangay at Lou-Is Restaurant in this component city.
The One Bataan Seal of Healthy Barangay according to Bataan Governor Abet S. Garcia is an incentive based program aimed to address the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and the prevention and reduction of the spread of communicable diseases in the province.
“The Province of Bataan, due to its outstanding health programs, is now known throughout the Philippines.”
This was how Health Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana described the accomplishments of Governor Garcia during the launching of OBSHB where she served as special guest and speaker about the significance of the program
Laxamana said the Department of Health has been recommending to local government units nationwide to benchmark in Bataan.
Among the province’s achievements on health include the Red Orchid hall of fame award, Outstanding Province in the Region on Nutrition Program Implementation, Gamechanger Award for HIV Program Implementation, and Top Performing Province for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control.
Governor Garcia in his message challenged all barangay captains in the province to win the One Bataan Seal of Healthy Barangay, leading to a vision come true of achieving a high life expectancy rate for Bataeños.
During the program launch, Garcia said the barangays must be free of dengue, measles, animal bite cases, maternal death, and illegal drugs. Barangays must also lower the mortality rate in their area, and join the province’s tree planting activity.
Each barangay that can attain these requirements will have an incentive of P50,000 per month.
Bataan has 237 barangays or villages comprising the 11 municipalities and one component city.
The launching organized by the Provincial Health Office led by Dr. Rosanna Buccahan was attended by Bataan 2nd District Rep. Joet Garcia, Vice Governor Cris Garcia, Atty. Tonyboy Roman representing Congresswoman Geraldine Roman of Bataan 1st District, Bataan Mayors led by Dinalupihan Mayor Gila Garcia and Pilar Mayor Charlie Pizarro, village chiefs, provincial and municipal health officers from all towns, Bataan PNP officials led by Police Colonel Villamor Tuliao, PDEA Bataan chief Marlou Ordoña, DILG Bataan head Myra Soriano and the local press.