PUBLIC SERVANT CORNER:
ANGELES CITY’S Gender And Development (GAD) Officer MINA CABILES’ vision and guidance resulted in the successful implementation of innovative and sustainable programs and interventions to address gender-related issues and concerns in the city. She has outstanding performance in gender mainstreaming and effective implementation of gender responsive programs. Such programs have visible impacts in terms of upholding the rights of women, achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, and transforming lives of women and men.
The GAD office, Cabiles explains, aims to equalize the status and condition of and relations between women and men by influencing the process of policy-making, planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring and evaluation so that they would deliberately address the gender issues and concerns affecting the full development of women. Meanwhile, aside from being one of the active committee heads in the COVID-10 vaccination program, Cabiles and City Health Officer Dr. Verona Guevarra are conducting a community-based immunization of Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) vaccines to all female Angeleños, aged 9-14 years old. HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses, which can cause genital warts and certain types of cancer (cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal).
FULL-TERMER Barangay Kagawad EDUARDO TORRES of Pulung Bulu (2002-2013) now currently manages the Angeles City’s Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA). He is 67 but looks incredibly youthful for his age. He chaired various barangay council committees such as appropriations and health. In March, he was appointed by Mayor Carmelo Pogi Lazatin Jr. Prior to his OSCA post, he served as legislative staff (2013-2019) when Mayor Lazatin was a City Councilor. It is suffice to say, Torres was recognized for his exemplary leadership achievements and for highly commendable participation and service in various community development undertakings in the city for a better Angeles. Meanwhile, the OSCA, the city’s Federation of Senior Citizens, and the Public Employment Services Office (PESOS) headed by Maridor Basilio will be conducting a Livelihood Project in Candle Making, Baking and Cooking Lessons. Torres has also successfully lobbied for the City Council’s approval of the 10 percent confinement/hospitalization capacity for senior citizens in all public and private hospitals in the city. He also facilitated in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its local counterpart CSWDO headed by Joy Duaso the release of Php 500 social pension for more than 900 indigent senior citizens. According to Chief Adviser and Tactician IC Calaguas, Mayor Lazatin has released the Php 1,000 annual social pension and Vitamin C supplement for 55,000 registered senior citizens last year and this year’s pension is expected to be released in time for the Senior Citizens Octoberfest.
TEACHERS PLAY a vital role in facilitating the learning and development of students. As the main contributor in molding the minds of the youth, the educators are expected to perform with utmost commitment, effectiveness and competency. It is of absolute importance to recognize the necessity of keeping our teachers healthy considering that their physical well-being has a significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of educational services.
Several programs in promoting the well-being of teachers have been initiated in the past by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). However, the comprehensive medical examination program for teachers which was initiated in 2014, in line with the mandate under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act (UHC) and the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, has not been implemented despite the issuance of the guidelines by the agencies concerned.
In 2019, a five hundred pesos (Php 500.00) medical examination benefit was provided for public school teachers under the General Appropriations Act (GAA). That was the first time that such benefit, which is a compulsory provision in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, was received by the teaching force. However, not long after, this financial assistance was no longer included in the DepEd’s budget.
As a proactive response to the needs of one of the most important sectors in our society, and to implement the obligation of the government under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, Senator Ralph Recto filed Senate Bill No. 2132, entitled “Public School Teachers’ Annual Medical Check-Up Act”, seeking to provide free annual medical examination for teachers which shall be chargeable against the PHIC’s health insurance fund. This benefit will strengthen the primary health care services in the country by promoting the health of public school teachers, reducing unnecessary hospitalization and protecting them from the high cost of hospital care.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the prioritization of nations towards the attainment of better health services and promotion of the well-being of its citizens. This measure will help ensure that the health of one of the most important and the largest group numbering to a million in government service will be taken care of.
The annual medical check-up benefit shall be provided free-of-charge to all public school teachers and may be availed of every year, subject to PhilHealth benefit guidelines. This benefit shall include a comprehensive health profile upon enlistment, primary care consultations, and when clinically necessary, selected diagnostic tests such as: Complete Blood Count (CBC), Blood Typing, Urinalysis, Stool Exam, Chest X-ray, Sputum Microscopy, Lipid Profile, Fasting Blood Sugar, Creatinine, Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Blood Glucose Monitoring.
The grant of the annual medical examination benefit authorized in this proposed bill shall cover all persons engaged in classroom teaching, in any level of instruction, on full-time basis, including guidance counselors, school librarians, industrial arts or vocational instructors, and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools, colleges, and universities operated by the government or its political subdivisions.
Beneficiaries shall choose the provider that is most accessible to them without restriction to jurisdictional area, and may avail of the benefit after enlistment and scheduled appointment. Both government and private health care facilities can be accredited as medical check-up providers, subject to PHIC accreditation standards. All accredited providers must ensure that the indicated benefits in the package are available to the enlisted beneficiaries. Providers cannot discriminate against beneficiaries with high health risks to enlist in their facility. The amount necessary for the grant of the annual medical check-up benefit shall be charged against the PHIC health insurance fund.
The National Teachers’ Month 2021 in the Philippines will begin on September 5 to October 5, 2021. It is an annual worldwide celebration led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The World Teachers’ Day – is celebrated on October 4 – aims to mobilize support for teachers, and ensure that their needs are met to carry out their important role of molding the minds of the youth.