Hagonoy is known for producing high-quality milkfish, shrimps, prawns and crabs. These have also become part of the town's culinary delights.

While the town is famous for seafoods, it also became infamous for heart-related illnesses with more than 7,000 cases- the highest in the province of Bulacan- recorded.

With this, the municipal government initiated the Hagonoy Cardiovascular Assessment Recovery and Emergency Services (Hagonoy CARES) program.

Mayor Flordeliza Manlapaz said the program was conceptualized to ensure that every resident with a heart-related illness can be regularly visited by a medical doctor.

“Hagonoy CARES also subsidizes and delivers a monthly supply of maintenance medicine. It also provides a free shuttle to and from the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City for particular cases. We also provide healthy meals,” Malapaz shared.

Moreover, Municipal Health Office Head Rommel Pajela disclosed that the local government spends about P600,000 annually for the program.

“Department of Health (DOH) is very supportive to Hagonoy CARES by providing around P1.8 million to P2.4 million worth of medicines, hospital and medical assistance, and other types of aid for patients with heart-related diseases,” he added.  

Meanwhile, DOH Central Luzon Center for Health Development Regional Director Corazon Flores reminded the people of Hagonoy to choose to live longer by eating more nutritious and healthy food.

“Please moderate the eating of milkfish, shrimps, prawns, and crabs which are high in cholesterol,” she told residents during the Health Month celebration that was held in the town.

Hagonoy CARES truly beats in every resident’s heart and can be a model to other municipalities and cities not only in Bulacan but the rest of Central Luzon. (CLJD/SFV-PIA 3)