LGU–P’sinan: 1st in PH to finish ZFF-DOH health leadership program
CAPITOL NEWS
Dr. Enrique A. Tayag (seated, 3rd from left), Former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla (seated, center) and Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) Pres. Ernesto Garilao (extreme right) laud 26 Pangasinan health leaders led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for being the first local government unit in the country who finished the Provincial Leadership and Governance Program conducted by the ZFF and the Department of Health during a graduation rites held at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen. Also in photo are other ZFF executives. /MVSadim
Lingayen – The local government unit (LGU) of Pangasinan led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. earned another milestone achievement in health governance for being feted as the first LGU in the country that completed the health leadership training program of the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) and the Department of Health (DOH).
The Provincial Leadership and Governance Program (PLGP), a ZFF-DOH initiated training course which prepared health leaders in Pangasinan to become “bridging leaders” further scaled up the parameters of provincial government owned and managed hospitals to become more responsive in public health care delivery and hospital services.
“Of the 33 provinces that enrolled in PLGP, Pangasinan was the last to enroll, but the first to finish,” ZFF President Ernesto Garilao disclosed during the graduation rites as he pointed out that the engagement of LGUs to the program depends on the political will of provincial chief executives.
In Pangasinan’s case, Prof. Garilao said that the provincial LGU has been aggressive in the promotion of public health care made evident with the upgrading of infrastructure and hospital facilities and provision of state-of-the-art medical equipment.
Quality and Affordable Health Care being second top priority of the Espino administration as a development thrust for the past eight years resulted to stellar accomplishments such as: the awarding of the ISO status to the Provincial Health Office and Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in 2014; and the implementation of the Philhealth’s Point-of-Care program in all 14 hospitals of the province which entitles all indigent patients to a “no balance billing policy.”
Former energy secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, a health leader, who graced the event as guest speaker, underscored the sustainability of health care programs implementation that is dependent on the kind of management of its human resources.
Petilla, a three-term Leyte governor, added: “boosting the morale of hospital staff would assure the sustainability of hospital operations.”
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr, who represented Governor Espino during the activity, bared that Pangasinan’s reputation in hospital management has elevated its scope and relevance in national level.
“Today, Pangasinan has become a favorite destination for study tours of LGUs which seek to replicate the best practices in public health care and hospital services of hospitals owned and managed by the provincial government,” Vice Gov. Calimlim said.
A colloquium of the stellar transformation of community and district hospitals under the Espino administration preceded the PLGP graduation rites.
Governor Espino leads the PLGP graduates along with Provincial Health Officer II Anna Maria Teresa de Guzman, Provincial Health Officer I Cielo Almoite, chiefs of hospitals of the provincial government, PHO program managers and coordinators.
Also present during the activity were DOH representatives, Director IV Enrique Tayag of DOH – Bureau of Local Health Systems Development and Regional Director Myrna Cabotaje./Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca
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