By Mar Supnad
BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Alarmed by the increasing number senseless deaths in his province, Governor Abet S. Garcia revealed today that he is set to form groups that will foster a positive outlook in life and a safer community that is free from suicides and drowning incidents.
(PIXABAY FILE PHOTO)
Garcia bewailed that suicides have become more frequent especially among the youth and wants stronger programs to combat mental illness in the province.
“We should form a technical working group on mental health that would monitor the increasing number of suicides and other mental health issues,” Garcia said during a meeting of the Provincial Local Health Board.
The “1Bataan Command Center” may also have a suicide prevention hotline to counsel Bataeños who are depressed or having suicidal thoughts.
Furthermore, Garcia also emphasized the accidental deaths which include drowning especially in the coastal areas in some towns of the province.
Latest data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), showed a total of 50 drowning incidents recorded since 2016.
In order to curb the incidents, Garcia instructed the PDRRMO to educate and train responders and lifeguards especially those in beaches and private resorts.
The Provincial Local Health Board is continuously promoting health programs and campaigns to prolong the life expectancy of each Bataeño.
This is in line with Bataan’s vision that by 2020, the province will have the lowest poverty incidence resulting from quality growth, attaining top-level human development index in the Philippines.