Ilocos Norte health system gets nearly P700 million funding

Ilocos Norte’s health system has received nearly Php 700 million this year as part of the Provincial Government’s efforts to carry out its vision of a “healthier” province, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc announced during his State of the Province address last January 11.

More than Php 650 million was appropriated towards infrastructure, equipment, and supplies of the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH), Dingras District Hospital, Bangui District Hospital, Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos District Hospital, and Piddig District Hospital.

Meanwhile, Php 35 million was allocated for the purchase of COVID-19 and other infectious disease response logistics, including medicines, emergency medical equipment and supplies, personal protective equipment and other supplies for frontline workers, COVID-19 and Dengue testing kits, and vaccines.

“Even before the pandemic, the improvement of our 6 provincial health facilities was well underway. In the past 2 years, we have poured in over Php 291 million into improving the infrastructure alone of our facilities. One of which was the timely establishment of our medical oxygen refilling plant building at GRBASMH. We have coupled our infrastructure with more equipment and supplies to the tune of Php 212 million and the hiring of medical professionals,” Gov. Marcos Manotoc recounted.

On the other hand, as a pioneer in offering mental health services, the Provincial Government has apportioned Php 1 million this year for various mental health activities, such as art therapy sessions, mental health break camps, and psychosocial first aid and support training. The “Search for the Best Mental Health Practices in Ilocos Norte” will likewise “underscore a whole-of-community approach to promote, protect, and care for mental health,” according to Gov. Marcos Manotoc.

In forwarding “preventive healthcare,” he also initiated the establishment of numerous new parks in Ilocos Norte, including many barangay eco-parks, where the Provincial Government allotted Php 200,000 to each barangay to establish or improve their own park with a barangay farm.

Ilocos Norte’s health sector received the largest share of the provincial budget for 2022 to be able to sustain reforms toward a more sustainable public health services.－Edison Justin B. Deus, PGIN-CMO