Super health center to serve remote villages in Davao Sur

The first-ever super health center (SHC) in Davao del Sur province broke ground on Monday at Barangay Zone 3 here.

Set to be completed in September this year, the SHC aims to provide comprehensive basic health services to the people, including the outpatient department, laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound, birthing services, diag- nostic, pharmacy, and emergency services.

The PHP11.5-million health facility, with an allotment of PHP6.5 million for the building and PHP5 million for equipment, is funded by the Department of Health (DOH) under its health facility enhancement program.

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, who led the groundbreaking, said the SHC will help decongest the public hospital in the province.

“You can expand the health center like putting dialysis machines. This is one way of making the medical services closer to the people,” he said in his speech.

Other components, particularly the maintenance operation and staffing of the SHCs, will be shouldered by the local govern-

Duterte issued the appeal as she paid her last respects to slain teacher Joel Reformado during a brief visit at his wake in Poblacion, Pikit.

Reformado, 37, a teacher at Damalasak Elementary School, was gunned down on May 26 in front of Manaulanan Elementary School, also in Pikit. His co-teacher, Elton John Lapined, was also injured.

Both were heading home from work when unidentified gunmen shot them at past 4 p.m.

Reformado died on the spot while Lapined is currently recuperating in a hospital.

Reformado was laid to his final resting place on Sunday.

Duterte briefly spoke with Reformado’s parents and relatives before proceeding to Davao City.

Satellite office in BARMM

Earlier on the same day, officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) welcomed Duterte’s opening of the satellite Office of the Vice President (OVP) in this city.

BARMM Chief Minister Ahod

“Rest assured of the support from the BARMM government to the OVP in implementing its programs and services like Mag Negosyo Ta ‘Day, PagbaBAGo campaign, Kalusugan Food Truck, Pansarap nutritional feeding program, and calamity response under the Disaster Operations Center,” Ebrahim said.

Duterte said the new OVP satellite office here will give BARMM residents easier access to social services her office is offering to indigents.

“The satellite offices were not set up per region but were handpicked strategically for their location. A major consideration is their proximity and accessibility to other areas or islands,” she told local officials of Cotabato City and BARMM.

Joining the Vice President in the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new OVP office situated along Sinsuat Avenue in this city were Ebrahim, Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao and Maguindanao del Norte OIC Gov. Abdulraof Macacua.

Duterte’s OVP satellite office here is the fourth in Mindanao and the ninth in the country since assuming office in last year. (PNA)