Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte praised the barangay health workers (BHWs) in Surigao del Norte, highlighting how their hard work and education helped the people in the communities understand health, nutrition, and diseases.
Vice President Sara Duterte speaks at the Barangday Health Workers Convention in Surigao del Norte. (OVP photo)
The official was the guest of honor and speaker during the province’s Barangday Health Workers Convention at the Surigao Provincial Gymnasium on Friday, May 12.
There, she recognized the sacrifices that BHWs had to face because of the terrain of the area.
“I know your sacrifices and the difficulties you face in serving the communities — some of them, cannot be reached unless you walk for several hours or ride a habal-habal,” she said in the local dialect.
“Together with the barangay officials, you have become the representatives of our government in the communities in the mountains and other places that are difficult to enter,” the official added.
She hailed the BHWs for taking the initiative to educate the communities on the value of children’s nutrition, as well as how to take precautionary measures against different diseases.
“At all times, you are in the community — together with the people especially in times of trouble and trials,” Duterte said.
While she was there, she also shared the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Medical and Burial (MAB) assistance project, and its availability in this province through the OVP Surigao Satellite Office in Tandag City.
The Caraga Medical Center, Surigao Doctors Hospital, Saint Paul Surigao University Hospital, Surigao Medical Center, and Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital in this province, are among the 343 public and private partner hospitals and dialysis centers of the OVP nationwide.
The Vice President shared that the satellite office in Tandag has already provided 3,107 medical assistance services, issued 496 guarantee letters to partner hospitals, and provided assistance to the residents of Mainit, Surigao del Norte.
Duterte, who is also Education Secretary and the co-vice chairperson of the country’s anti-insurgency task force, also called on parents to make sure their children are in school and to protect them from criminality, drugs, insurgency and terrorism.
“Since you are already in the communities, I urge you to help explain the importance of keeping children away from the force that will destroy their future such as illegal drugs,” she appealed.
“Another call is to keep our children away from being seduced and recruited by the New People's Army,” she added.
On Facebook, the Vice President also shared that she visited the Capalayan Elementary School and Capalayan National High School in Surigao City, where her office provided 151 PagbaBAGo bags to Grade 1 and Grade 7 students.
(Photo from Inday Sara Duterte via Facebook)
She also took the time to greet the groups in Surigao City who supported her candidacy and the six years of the administration of her father, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte also expressed gratitude for the trust they have given the Duterte family to serve the Filipinos.