Beyond borders: Ligao City delivers free health services to the people

The City Health Office, headed by Dr. Wynns Samar (left), provides health services and periodically conducts medical  and dental missions to ensure the health and nutrition of local residents.

The City Government of Ligao, through its City Health Office (CHO), delivers free health services for newborns, pregnant women, young adults, senior citizens, and the general public. Generously, the City extends these services to the residents of nearby barangays from neighboring municipalities through its community health facilities.

Extensive health services for pregnant women and children

• Prenatal and Antenatal Health services. Pregnant women receive health services before and after giving birth. They undergo medical checkups three times during their pregnancy. They also receive a six-month supply of Ferrous Sulfate with Follic Acid before giving birth. Another two-month supply of Ferrous Sulfate is given to maintain a good supply of red blood cells in their body after giving birth. 

• Birthing facilities. Ligao has four lying-ins. Two are located in the upland area (Bacong and Paulba), one in the coastal area (Maonon), and one in the Mayon Unit (Basag).  These birthing facilities, along with the 13 Barangay Health Stations, serve as catchment areas of patients from surrounding barangays. The lying-in at Maonon, for instance, not only offers health services within the coastal areas of Ligao but also to barangays Bogtong (Oas) and Basicao (Pioduran). Similarly, Paulba Lying-in, which is strategically located three meters away from Ligao City Hall Annex, caters to ten barangays in the upland area. Neihboring barangays of Oas, Albay also benefit from the services due to the accessibility of the facility. 

• Health care for infants. Childbirth services in the lying-ins are also offered for free. Upon birth, infants undergo Newborn Screening, a test done to diagnose possible disorder that can affect the child’s health and survival. In addition, the CHO routinely administers immunization of infants and visits remote areas to conduct mass immunization.

The BEMONC facility at Basag services barangays in the Mayon Unit.
Photo: Ligao City Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lgu.ligaocity

Consultations for pregnant women and children are scheduled every Wednesday. CHO maintains separate scheduled medical checkups to avoid patients with communicable illnesses get in contact with pregnant women and children.

The Paulba Lying-in, formerly called Ligao Municipal Health Infirmary, has serviced upland barangays since 1994. The facility is a catchment area of patients from upland barangays of Ligao including the nearby barangays of neighboring municipalities.  Photo: Ligao City Planning and Development Office

Nutrition programs and health facilities for youth and senior citizens

• Nutrition programs. CHO conducts deworming among children and implements feeding programs in schools. Likewise, the CHO provides free vitamins and medicines for malnourished children. They also coordinate with the medical personnel of the Department of Education to assess the health situation of students. 

• Health facilities for youth. This year, Ligao City simultaneously opened its first community Teen Health Center at the second floor of CHO and school-based Teen Chat Center at Ligao National High School. The establishment of the facilities aims to address the issue on teenage pregnancy, and other problems encountered by teenagers.

The Therapeutic Rehabilitation and Nutrition Center at Tuburan, beside the BRSHS, houses the Senior Citizen's Center and the Physical Therapy Center. 

• The Therapeutic Rehabilitation and Nutrition Center at Barangay Tuburan, beside the Bicol Regional High School houses the Senior Citizen Center dedicated solely for the medical needs of senior citizens. Services include the following:

• Medical checkups scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• Consultations, laboratory tests, and medicines all available for free. 
• Yearly activities prepared by the City for senior citizens. One of which is the Elderly Week wherein the City awards senior citizens who reach the age of 100.

• The Physical Therapy Center is also located at Tuburan. A licensed Physical Therapist services patients in need of rehabilitation therapy, e.g. those who are recovering from vehicular accidents.

General health services and programs

CHO offers dental services and conducts

dental missions yearly.

The CHO has five doctors consisting of two General Practitioners, an Obstetrician, Internal Medicine specialist, and a resident doctor for senior citizens. CHO provides a variety of health services to the general public.

• Consultations and laboratory testing. Patients can avail medical checkups for free. Laboratory testing such as CBC, Urinalysis, Fecalysis, and Sputum exam are also available at CHO.

• Dental services. A dentist is permanently assigned at the office while another one makes rounds at schools and day care centers. Every month, a dentist also visits the Mayon Unit barangays to offer free dental services to the local residents. 

• Medical assistance. The City has allotted a budget for patients admitted at the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH) and provides medical assistance such as payment of hospital bills and medicines for patients treated in other hospitals. Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua said that the City provides financial assistance for the purchase of medicines.

• Sanitation Program. CHO also conducts sanitary inspection of water facilities and food establishments. The City Government subsidizes the operation of Ligao Water District to provide safe potable and affordable water supply.

Patients under emergency are referred and transferred directly to hospitals by ambulance.

Towards better services

Aside from the newly opened Teen Health Center, CHO has also started the Dance Fitness Program this year to address the issue on obesity. Zumba dance lessons are done every Thursdays and Fridays and are open to the public. 

In 2015, the CHO will begin its Mobile Dental Clinic, a new service to improve the accessibility of dental services to the local residents. Two new health facilities which are nearly completed are also expected to operate next year- the new lying-in near the City Hall and the satellite office of CHO at Nasisi that will offer the same kind of health services as that of the main CHO.

In addition, the City purchased two additional ambulances this year for use in medical emergency transport needs.

The nearly completed satellite office of CHO at Nasisi is expected to operate very soon to offer similar health services to the Mayon Unit barangays. Photo courtesy of Jurlan Buello

The City Government of Ligao headed by Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua along with the medical team lead by Dr. Samar and other offices of the local government are working closely together to further improve the health services being offered to the people.

While CHO continues in improving the health services, Ligao also strive to further upgrade facilities to continuously improve the services. The Office of the Mayor is directing all the offices of the City Government to continuously and progressively deliver all the basic services for the benefit and well-being of its inhabitants. 

Written by Lala Peñafiel

Ligao City turns evacuation centers into homes

From shelter to food supplies to entertainment, Ligao City is creating homes away from homes in the evacuation centers. With Ligao’s Operation “Mayon Eruption” 2014, families are given special attention to make their stay at the evacuation centers as comfortable as possible. Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua said that they are pulling resources to accommodate the evacuees and provide them with all the basic needs and some source of entertainment.

As of 29 September, 834 families from barangays Baligang, Amtic, and Tambo were evacuated to the AECID Building and Binatagan Elementary School, NHA/Ligao City Government Socialized Housing and J.M. Robredo Productivity Center, and Nabonton Elementary School and Barangay Hall.

The show must go on

Despite being away from their homes, evacuees from Baligang celebrated their Barangay Fiesta at Binatagan on 24 September. The City prepared a set of activities for the day to keep the evacuees entertained and distracted, according to Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON. Evacuees enjoy several activities during the celebration of their barangay fiesta.
Photo courtesy of Keith Ruivivar/City Mayor's Office

Evacuees participated in “The Singing Evacuees” where they enjoyed the videoke singing. Parlor games, free ice cream, and mascots of Dora the Explorer and Mickey Mouse brought joys to the families. A fiesta mass and baptism of 50 children were held in the morning and followed by a night of dancing, all sponsored by Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez.

"The Singing Evacuees" was one of the activities that the City Government prepared for the evacuees.
Photo courtesy of Keith Ruivivar/Ligao City Mayor's Office

The City Civil Registrar’s Office also conducted a Mobile Registration at the evacuation center in Binatagan bringing the services closer to the evacuees.

The City Government of Ligao, through the City Civil Registrar's Office conducted a Mobile Registration at the evacuation center in Binatagan. Photo courtesy of Jurlan Buello

Home away from home

The eruption of Mayon volcano remains unpredictable. It is uncertain as to how long the evacuees would be staying in the evacuation centers. Nevertheless, the City is taking efforts to help the evacuees perform their daily routines as if they are at home. “As much as possible, we try to provide all the needs nung mga [of our] evacuees. We make them as comfortable as we can,” said Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua.

DORA VISITS. Mascot Dora the Explorer visits and brings joy to the families. Photo courtesy of Keith Ruivivar/City Mayor's Office

On 21 September, mascots came to entertain the evacuees and a film showing was held in the evening for an extended recreation.

Children enjoyed the film showing of "The Frozen" during their first week at the evacuation center.
Photo courtesy of Keith Ruivivar/City Mayor's Office

Entertainment shows are being held every weekend. The City provided improvised large screens where films are being projected for better viewing experience of the large audience. These entertainment shows along with other amusement were part of the Psycho-social activities prepared by the City to help the evacuees overcome stress and anxiety.

                              

Pulling all resources

Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua said that they are pulling all the resources to continuously provide the needs of the evacuees. With the help of the Provincial Governor, Sangguniang Panlungsod and City officials and participation of Congressman Gonzalez and private individuals, Ligao is able to acquire more resources.

The City designates a health team, ambulance, and PNP personnel to the evacuation centers available every day for 24 hours. Potable water facilities, toilets, and shower rooms were also provided in the areas. The Bureau of Fire and Protection sends fire trucks twice every day to fill up water drums in the evacuation centers for domestic use (i.e. washing dishes and clothes).

Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua with local government personnel distribute fresh fish and dressed chicken to the evacuees. Photos courtesy of Jurlan Buello

The City is also coming up with a strategy that would make the distribution of relief goods more efficient and convenient. Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua said that they are distributing a variety of relief goods including tinapa with eggs, meatloaf with monggo, corned beef, Vienna sausage, and macaroni soup among others. The evacuees are provided occasionally with fresh fish and chicken.

Tents provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) were used as temporary classrooms of students from Amtic National High School. Partition walls were also installed in evacuation centers to make cubicles for families. The City is maximizing the use of available spaces to provide shelters for evacuees instead of occupying schools to avoid suspension of classes.

Despite having simultaneous projects and issues going around the city, Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua, in cooperation with local officials and authorities, responds to each concern the fastest and most effective way possible.

Written by Lala Peñafiel

Farmer stories proved PhilRice's "P1M profit per hectare per year" campaign a success

Read Mang Carte's story in PhilRice Magazine
 Ripples of Change, p.17

As PhilRice Bicol sets sail to achieve the target profit of one million pesos (P1M) per hectare per year, the success is indefinite until the first implementation of the Integrated Rice-based Agri-Bio System (IRBAS) project-based business has been completed and the target profit has been achieved. While success cannot be determined at this early stage of implementation, stories of farmers marked a positive outlook towards a positive result.

In the April-June 2014 issue of the PhilRice Magazine titled Ripples of Change, success stories of farmers who benefited from PhilRice's campaign were featured, elaborating their life-changing farming experiences and how they reach the one million-peso target profit.

One of the featured stories in the magazine was of Ricarte "Manong Carte" Corpuz' of Ilocos Norte. Manong Carte earns P719,700 from planting hybrid rice for three (3) croppings in one hectare for one year. He also plants corn and mungbean which accounts for an income of P50,000 and P187,000 from planting watermelon. He also raises cattle which gives him an income of P47,000 and P92,000 for raising pigs.

Read Mang Carte's full story and how he was able to earn more than a million in one year and other stories in Ripples of Change. An online version of the magazine is embedded below.

Read other issues of PhilRice magazine here.

Written by Lala Peñafiel

Reference:
Parac, E. (2014). The 'I's in a Million Earning. PhilRice Magazine Ripples of Change. Philippine Rice Research Institute, Volume 27, No.II. Pages 16-17.

PhilRice Bicol sets sail to target P1M profit per hectare per year

Despite being one of the top producers of rice in the world, targeting rice self-sufficiency remains a challenge in the Philippines. To address this concern, the Philippine Rice Research Institute is continuously developing programs and technologies that will improve rice farming in the country.

One of the recently developed projects is the Integrated Rice-based Agri-Bio Systems (IRBAS). This 2014, the project is set to be tested in all branches of PhilRice including the Bicol station situated at Batang, Ligao City.

IRBAS aims to target rice self-sufficiency by increasing the production of rice and other crops with high market value. The project will implement the diversification of crop production, explore the potential of rice-based products, and venture in on mushroom production and vermicomposting.

The project also aims to achieve a target profit of P1M per hectare per year which will be derived from the three components of IRBAS: rice-peanut production, mushroom production, and vermicomposting.

Rice-peanut production

Photo source: http://www.almanac.com/image/peanuts-natural

Rice is established in two cropping season each year (wet and dry) in most of the irrigated rice fields in most of the local farming communities. For each year, instead of producing only rice, PhilRice will be diversifying the cropping system by planting peanuts in between the cropping seasons. This will be referred as Rice-peanut-rice production.

Agricultural Engineer and IRBAS focal person Melanie Aileen de Peralta said that PhilRice initially planned to use mungbean instead of peanut. However, their studies reveal that peanut has higher market value, is easily produced, and has more by-products compared to mungbean.

Peanut is usually sold by street vendors as fried, steamed, and sugar-coated. Peanut is one the most affordable finger food snacks in the Philippines and very appealing to the taste of many people. Peanut butter, a by-product of peanut, is also widely-used for cooking pastries, viands, desserts, and most often for sandwiches.

Mushroom production

Rice straws (right) serve as substrate for 

growing Kurakding (left)

Another component of the IRBAS project is the mushroom production. PhilRice Bicol is now starting its mushroom culture at the station using the Kurakding, a local variety of edible mushroom. Kurakding is suitable to produce due to the environmental condition of Ligao that is favorable to its growth. There is also a potential for a wider mushroom production in the local area according to de Peralta as there is high demand of edible mushroom in Metro Manila but very little supply.

The Kurakding is also popular to local residents as it is used for preparing vegetable dishes with coconut milk and makes Bicol express more special and flavorful.

PhilRice will be using rice straws as substrate for growing Kurakding. This will avoid wastage and burning of rice straws which will also reduce the production expenses.

Vermicomposting

The third component of the IRBAS project involves the production of “organic fertilizer from biodegradable materials (e.g. plant residues and animal manure) through the action of earthworms”¹. This is referred as vermicomposting.

Similar to the mushroom production, rice straw and food wastes such as vegetable peels will be used as substrate for the vermicomposting. The vermicompost or the fertilizer produced from vermicomposting can be used to fertilize agricultural lands or can be sold in the market as added income.

The income that will be generated from the three components will determine the success of the project, which is to achieve the target profit of P1M.

The IRBAS project, implemented as a business, is being carried out initially at the station as PhilRice Bicol is in the process of developing a model farm. Dr. Reynaldo Castro, branch manager of PhilRice Bicol, said that they are using the nucleus-estate strategy (NUESTRA)² in which projects technologies developed are tested at the station and will be implemented in the nearby farming communities upon successful testing. The strategy can also be seen as a ripple effect in which the projects are implemented starting at the center (PhilRice branch) towards the surrounding communities.


The IRBAS is expected to end on April 2015. According to de Peralta, additional components that involve raising ducks, cows, and other farm animals will be included in the succeeding years of the project implementation.

Written by Lala Peñafiel

References:

¹ Intensified Rice-based Agri-Bio Systems (IRBAS) Project Protocol. Philippine Rice Research Institute.
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² More information about NUESTRA on PhilRice magazine, Ripples of Change.

Ligao City hailed as Grand Champion at Ibalong Street Presentation

BEAUTY AND GRACE. Ligao City's colorful Sunflower Festival showcased during the Ibalong Street Presentation.

Photo by John Oscar De Luna Aquino

With pride and glory, Ligao City brought the majestic Sunflower Festival into a higher level bagging awards during the Ibalong Festival on 30 August 2014. Ligao City was awarded as the Ibalong Street Presentation 2014 Grand Champion.

Ligao City was also awarded as Best in Ritual Interpretation and Best in Moving Choreography. The Sunflower Festival was recently launched during the 13th Cityhood Anniversary of Ligao City on 24 March 2014 together with the official Sunflower Festival dancers that will represent Ligao City.