Thank you Bohol (Part 3)
by Governor Art Yap
Last week we ended Part 2 with a discussion on the need for continued food security for Bohol especially with the situation in the world of high fuel and fertilizer prices because of the Russia-Ukraine War. The effect of that is clear and obvious: higher fuel and fertilizer prices mean higher input costs for our farmers that are translated to higher production costs. Not only will food prices be higher in the market because of expensive inputs but the high input prices will mean lesser use of fertilizers which will mean lower harvests. The result is lesser food supplies in the market pushing prices up. Bohol must make sure we have basic and fundamental food supplies for our people.
As the world tries to recover from Covid 19, the debt of the last few years, and the Russia-Ukraine War, there is still so much instability in the world which will affect us. We cannot be sure how business will behave in the coming years and how jobs will be affected. For this reason, we must continue to strengthen social protection projects.
Our modernization of medical facilities must continue. My administration was able to secure close to half a billion pesos worth of funds so procuring new equipment and renovating buildings of the Provincial Government clinics and facilities must continue. We have started by adding more seats into our Dialysis Centers in Tagbilaran City and a totally new facility in Talibon. We have already programmed additional seats in Jagna and Carmen to disperse dialysis assistance in the Province. Most importantly, medical assistance funds must be expanded. In my term, medical funds were expanded to help our people defray medical expenses like dialysis on top of their Philhealth funds.
We must also understand that to control the costs of professional medical services, it is critical that we must now produce our own doctors and nurses. Medical and professional fees in Bohol are higher than other parts of the country because we cannot produce enough Doctors and medical front-liners. It is for this reason I am proud to announce that through Provincial Ordinance No. 2022-002, we are now paving the way for qualified medical professionals by supporting their studies. Initially, we are setting aside the amount of PHP 20 million pesos for qualified Bolanon medical students.
The qualifications are as follows:
1) Must be a natural-born Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines.
2) Must be a registered voter and resident of Bohol province for at least two (2) years immediately prior to application.
3) Must have completed a pre-medical bachelor’s degree with a general average of 80% or its equivalent numerical rating with no incomplete grade.
4) Must obtain a National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) Pass Rating as required by the medical school where the applicant intends to enrol.
S) Must not have availed of any current scholarship program from any government or private institution.
6) Must be of good moral character.
7) Only one (1) child per family at a time can avail of the scholarship.
Whether the student wishes to study in Manila or elsewhere, the important issue is that he/she must maintain his/her standards, stay in the program, finish the studies, get certified and practice in Bohol. For each year of financial support, the scholar must render two years worth of service to our people.
For the first time in our history, through Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-027. we are also giving free med- 1cmes to Senior Citizens for Hypertension, Arthritis and Diabetes to support their needs. The Buhat ang Pasultihon Medical Card for Senior Citizens will also give them the benefit of free annual medical check ups in our Provincial owned medical facilities and free medical assistance for surgery and operations where applicable m conjunction with Philheath benefits.
On the occas10n when these Senior Citizens reach the age of 100 years old, a PHP 100,000 pesos cash gift or the Centenarian’s Cash Gift through Provincial Ordinance No. 2020- 020 will also be given to them. Our Senior Citizens are very happy and appreciative of this Cash Gift but have also observed that at 100 years old, many of them are already handicapped to enjoy the blessings of the generous donation. For this reason and moved by their observations, I have submitted to the SP an amendment to the law which they are working to pass soon so that 50% of the cash gift can be given to our Senior Citizens at the age of 85 years old with the said Senior Citizen receiving PHP 25,000 every five years thereafter. Whatever the outcome, it is at least clear that my Administration, through free medicines, expanded financial medical support and the Centenarian’s Cash Gift has placed our Senior Citizens on a pedestal of importance that they deserve.
The protection of Senior Citizens extends to their families for which reason we have expanded maJor social protection programs for them which include but are not limited to: rice support for every Bol-anon family, expanded academic scholarship programs for the youth and those who want to be medical professionals, free medicines for semor citizens, water programs for barangay residents, water projects for island barangays, centenarian cash gifts and even bereavement assistance for families in cash and one sack of rice under Executive Order No. 69.
Expanding these Social Protection Programs does not mean we will just sit back and lie idle. This only means that we are preparing to support our people when the times prove to be difficult for recovery. At the end, we must work hard and provide for ourselves where and when we can.
Micro-enterprises are very critical to keep our economy afloat and moving so we need to support them. A potent force are women groups. Women leaders and entrepreneurs are the force of the small economy and they use their role in the family to encourage people in the village levels to produce and engage in livelihood activities.
My administration is proud to have been able to contribute to women entrepreneurs when we supplied Municipal and Barangay based Women’s Groups with 118 freezers, 50 units of sewing machines, Bangus fish cages with pump boats, and the on-going distribution of 1,109 sets of kitchen utensils. Beyond financing Sari-Sari Stores, these projects and programs are critical because through these programs, women leaders are also doing their part to support our farmers in value added food processing.
End of Part 3. Next Week Tourism