CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Gov. Sol Aragones said she would establish community pharmacies across the province beginning this September, providing free maintenance medicines for conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.

Dubbed “Akay ni Gob Botika,” these community pharmacies will be set up in all 24 towns and six cities of Laguna, offering essential medicines, including losartan, amlodipine, simvastatin, and metformin at no cost to residents.

During a Facebook livestream on Thursday evening, Aragones explained that preparations are underway to secure funding from the provincial government for the project.

In the meantime, four “Akay ni Sol Mobile Botika” units were simultaneously launched on July 2 in three cities and one town. This coincided with the governor’s inaugural address at the Cultural Center of the Provincial Capitol Complex in Santa Cruz.

“These mobile pharmacies, which include physicians and pharmacists, will operate every Wednesday in four different locations,” Aragones said.

In addition to the pharmacy initiative, Aragones bared that provincial staff are currently identifying sites for six upcoming action centers in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

These centers aim to streamline requests for medical, financial, and burial assistance.

“If there is a need to hire additional personnel for these action centers, we will do so,” Aragones assured. “We have to accelerate the delivery of these services to those who need them the most.” (PNA)