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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Covid-19 an eye-opener to improve PH health system --- VP Duterte

Covid-19 an eye-opener to improve PH health system --- VP Duterte

Published May 4, 2023 08:13 am
Vice President Sara Duterte said on Thursday, May 4, that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was an eye-opener for the country’s public health system. Vice President Sara Duterte speaks at the opening ceremony of the 49th Midyear Convention of the Philippine College of Surgeons held at SMX Convention Center in Davao City. (OVP photo) It also taught her and many Filipinos a lesson. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 49th Midyear Convention of the Philippine College of Surgeons in Davao City, Duterte emphasized the need to prioritize public health and provide more avenues for Filipinos to access medical services. The official lamented the unavailability of basic health services in marginalized and underprivileged communities. This prompted her office to establish a medical assistance program. “Coming from one of the biggest cities in the country, natutunan ko na mahalagang magkaroon ng mga satellite offices sa ibat-ibang lugar para masiguro na mabababa ‘yung tulong na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan (it is important to have satellite offices in various areas to ensure the aid needed by our countrymen is delivered to them),” she said. Apart from Metro Manila, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) now has eight satellite offices that are located in the cities of Cauayan, Dagupan, Bacolod, Tacloban, Cebu, Davao, Tandag and Zamboanga. Citing the increase in her office’s utilization of funds allocated for medical aid, Duterte said this shows her office’s goal to bring the government services “closer to the people.” The Vice President thanked the doctors and medical workers for their sacrifices to save lives at the height of the pandemic. As the former mayor of Davao City, she also shared the city government’s initiative to support aspiring doctors, which includes a Medicine Scholarship Program that had an indigenous tribe member as one of its graduates. “Bago po ako bumaba as mayor noong nakaraang taon, ang atin pong lumad doctor ay piniling bumalik doon sa kanilang lugar sa Marilog District ng Davao City para doon magserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan (Before I left as mayor last year, our lumad doctor chose to go back to Marilog District of Davao City to serve our fellowmen),” she said.

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Satellite offices medical services OVP VP Sara Duterte public health system Davao City Covid-19 pandemic
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