September 23, 2015 marks a milestone in the history of the Province of Apayao. On this day, no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III, the only President of the country to ever visit the Province, received a warm welcome from eager and thrilled locals including the Regional Executives representing the different line agencies and other frontline government institutions of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Cognizant of the fact that the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) is a priority program of the current administration, Cordillera Regional Vice President Elizabeth S. Fernandez was among the few executives invited by the Provincial Government to the event. Also present were local executives of the Department of Health (DOH), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Tourism (DOT), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
The President personally witnessed the presentation of Accomplishments of the Aquino Administration in the Province as delivered by Governor Elias Bulut Jr. With a jampacked crowd at the Poblacion Luna, locals and visitors alike took note of the noteworthy ventures including the DPWH-DOT convergence project, upgrading of hospital facilities, school buildings and the on-going construction of the road network that would link Apayao to the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan through the Ilocos-Apayao-Cagayan Road.
The President took time to inspect the refurbished Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center at Brgy. Quirino, Luna, Apayao, one of the beneficiary-institutions of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the DoH. Once an old public school building with only four rooms and now transformed into a modern health facility, this DOH-retained hospital now proudly stands ground servicing the locals of the Province. Through HFEP, P23.08 million was allotted to the hospital in 2011for infrastructure upgrading and by 2014, a total of P26.5 million was granted for equipment upgrading including increase in bed capacity from 35 to 100.
Currently the hospital’s solid waste management plant is being constructed while another P25 million was released for the construction of an additional 4-storey ward.
Aside from the Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center, all the remaining six (6) hospitals located in each municipality of the Province (Apayao has 7 municipalities) are also recipients of HFEP Fund to ensure the attainment of universal health care province-wide.
After Governor Bulut’s provincial accomplishment report presentation, the President emphasized his strong regard for financial risk protection. “To ensure continuous community development, health service delivery forms major part of upgraded social services," he said.
Proof of this is the Aquino Administration’s expanded PhilHealth programs and services to the Filipino people especially to the indigents, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries and the senior citizens.
In Apayao, 113,408 (93%) of the population are covered by PhilHealth. This is 3% higher than the 90% national target for 2015. PhilHealth Apayao, in partnership with the province, intends to increase this coverage until the end of the year as it continues to increase the community’s access to accredited health care institutions.
Throughout the event, school children, farmers, and community members from practically all walks of life, shared that health services have become so accessible with the presence of hospitals and other health institutions in their respective localities. To support major health reforms in the Province, PhilHealth has pledged to be a major presence as the Province moves toward Universal Coverage. (Noland G. Sabling, Planning Officer III/Executive Assistant-Designate)
