SARANGANI, Davao Occidental (PIA) — Various services particularly on health concerns have recently been delivered to the island municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental located at the southernmost part of the Davao region, benefitting residents of the indigenous cultural communities from six barangays.
The member agencies of the Regional Interagency Committee on IP Health (RIAC-IPH) XI brought their respective services in Barangay Camalig at the Sarangani island through its Community Outreach and Immersion Activities (COIA) in collaboration with the Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao.
The health and medical services included dental services, minor surgical procedures, circumcision, ophthalmological services, cleft lip and palate assessment, OB-Gyne and other FP services, blood sugar testing, and among others.
Doctors, dentists, nurses, and other medical personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) XI, Office of the Vice President, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao Regional Medical Center, Davao Occidental Provincial DOH Office, and Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), have joined forces to conduct medical procedures and services.
The COIA that turned out to be a one-stop-shop of government services converged together, benefited residents from the four barangays in the Sarangani island which comprise around 4,000 populace, and two barangays from the main island of Balut where the government center is located.
Apart from the medical and health services, other government agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, National Commission on Indigenous People, Commission on Population Development, Department of Education, and Bureau of Immigration, have also conducted their respective programs on registration process and advocacy.
Ronalyn Dawang from Brgy. Patucol grabbed the opportunity to avail of the services, particularly on consultation and medicine for her skin disease, saying “Dako kaayo akong pasalamat kay gitagaan mi og panahon, ug libreng tambal (I’m very grateful that we’re given this chance, and for the free medicine).”
Bebing Barahama, whose right eye is blind, went with her aunt to have her eye checked and get medicines and vitamins. Her aunt Oria Uy, a senior citizen, also lined up to avail of the various services.
“Dako kaayong pasalamat kay ang gobyerno naay suporta sa katawhan.. Unta mausab pa ni. (It’s with big gratitude that the government has support for the people… We hope that this would happen again),” Barahama said as she expressed hope to have a clear vision again.
Another resident, who is experiencing a blurred vision, also took advantage to have his eyes checked because it has slowed down his fishing activities, saying “Panagsa ra ni nga tsansa. (This is a rare chance).”
Sarangani Mayor Adelan de Arce extended appreciation to the collaboration of the national government agencies and the Philippine Navy.
“Sarangani as an isolated island, we really need these services for our people. Feel ko ang pagkakaisa ng mga agencies. Malaking utang na loob ito. (We feel the unity of the agencies. It’s with great gratitude),” De Arce stated in an episode of Kapihan sa PIA Davao Occidental during the COIA held at the gymnasium of Brgy. Camalig.
NFEM, headed by Commodore Alfonspin Tumanda, Jr., provided the transportation for the participating member-agencies of the RIAC-IPH via BRP Tagbanua and BRP Herminigildo Yurong (PG906).
Tumanda said they joined the COIA through their regular community outreach program dubbed as “Pagkakaisang Tulong mula sa Karagatan,” which focuses on three lines of effort, namely: Cooperative Health Engagement (CHE), Engineering Civic Action Program (ENGAP), and Community Relations (ComRel).
“Andito tayo para maghatid ng serbisyo. Mag sama sama para dalhin ang government services dito. Para makita nila ang supporta ng gobyerno (We are here to deliver services. We are together to bring government services here. So they will see the support of the government),” he stated.
Jinky Espino, IP health focal of DOH XI, has assured the public that the agency “will continuously do its part in ensuring that health services are being delivered and experienced by all Filipinos especially in GIDAs.”
She said that the community outreach and immersion is part of the continuous commitment of DOH and RIAC-IPH to deliver basic health services to those living in the indigenous cultural communities and Geographically Isolated Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), and contribution to Localized Peace Engagement (LPE) of the Regional Task Force. (CLC/PIA Davao Occidental)
