BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) – The Mountain Province Provincial Health Office (PHO), in partnership with the local health office and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, organized a Universal Health Care (UHC) caravan that toured different municipalities in the Mountain Province.

The caravan aims to re-orient local chief executives, health workers, and local finance committees on the UHC Law and its implementation strategies, conduct health education and promotion, Philhealth registration, and Konsulta First Patient Encounter.

With the theme “From Coverage to Care: UHC for Every Life in All Communities of Mountain Province,” the caravan was conducted in the capital town of Bontoc on April 19. It was attended by the punong barangay, chairperson of the Committee on Health, barangay health workers, and barangay midwives of the 16 barangays, as well as Sangguniang Bayan members.

Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. shared that the UHC team has been going around the different municipalities to highlight the importance of ensuring access to quality healthcare services for every individual in the community as provided under Republic Act No.11223 or the UHC Act. 

The UHC seeks to bring health services closer to the people, and is gradual in implementation, so it is important for the people to understand the concept and benefits. He encouraged the participants to ask questions regarding UHC and share what they had learned during the caravan.  

 “Saludsuden tayu tatta nu kasanu, nu anya ti makuna, kasanu tayu agrugi panggep ditoy UHC. Nu anya man maawatan tayu, nu agawid tayu ket ishare tayu,” the governor said.

 [Let us ask how, what is it about UHC. Let us share what we have learned when we go home.]

The governor assured the provincial government’s full support for the implementation of the UHC in the province.

“The UHC Caravan is an avenue to fully explain to our partners at the barangay level about this program since they are the ones who will help us relay the information to the people in their respective villages,” said Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr.

Dr. Carol D. Yawan of the  Provincial Health Office, comprehensively discussed UHC, and shared some inputs on how UHC is being implemented by the province. 

PhilHealth personnel also discussed PhilHealth's roles in UHC implementation, as well as PhilHealth registration, membership, benefits, contributions and claims, and the Konsultasyong Sulit Tama (Konsulta) package.

The Bontoc Municipal Health Office also facilitated blood pressure taking and body mass index assessment.

The UHC caravan kicked off in Paracelis  on March 12 ,and will end in the municipality of Sadanga on April 30, 2024. (JDP/VJLT- PIA Mt. Province)