A national webinar tackles the local government unit’s role in defeating the Coronavirus disease pandemic. First district representative Edgar Chatto is one of the reactors of the said webinar entitled, “LGUs: Crucial in Defeating Covid-19 Pandemic” held on February 20, 2021. Shown at the first row from left are Health Usec. María Rosario Vergeire and Atty. Joey Alona; . middle row, from left are SoulPH Executive Director Greg Atienza and Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua; bottom row, from left are Senator Francis Tolentino and Bohol’s Cong. Edgar Chatto. Contributed photo
Strengthening the health sector through improved health facilities and health services is a continuing campaign of local governments.
This is what Cong. Edgar Chatto expressed during the national virtual forum: (local government unit) LGUs: Crucial in Defeating Covid-19 Pandemic” through Zoom on Feb. 20, 2021, a report from Chatto’s office bares.
Speaking in the forum as one of the reactors, Chatto shared that the Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic tested both readiness of local health care systems and the synergy of national and local health care response.
In particular, Chatto pointed out that the transfer of healthcare related funds to the local level is slow.
“This is a continuing challenge for the health sector in order to improve health facilities and health services,” he added.
Chatto is optimistic that with the Mandanas ruling which will increase the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of local governments, LGUs will be afforded additional budget to earmark for health services.
As former governor, he had initiated the modernization of province-operated district hospitals and pushed for the upgrading of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital.
Chatto was governor of Bohol for nine (9) years and mayor of Balilihan during the transition towards devolution of services under the Local Government Code of 1991. He expounded on the strengths and weaknesses of the health care system in the local level.
The participants of the virtual national webinar included former Senator, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary, and Laguna governor Joey Lina as resource speaker.
Lina explained the history of the devolution of public services specifically health care as well as recommendations, both short- and medium-terms, to maximize this devolved system of local governance.
Chatto was among the reactors that included chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government Senator Francis Tolentino, Quirino Governor and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president Dakila Carlo Cua, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, and Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Former chairman of the AIM Alumni Association – Philippines Greg Atienza was the moderator. Atienza is the executive director of SoulPH, the organizer of the webinar.