LINGAYEN—The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) is providing financial assistance to the provincial government to support efforts to keep Pangasinan malaria-free.

For this purpose, Gov. Amado Espino III was authorized by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to sign a memorandum of agreement with DOH Region 1 Director Dr. Valeriano Lopez for the P1 million grant to the province.

Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, who sponsored the resolution, said Pangasinan has been declared malaria-free after undergoing assessment by the DOH-National Malaria Validation Team for having reported no indigenous case on malaria from 2012 to 2016.

He explained that the P1 million grant from Region 1 is a performance-based grant to support the maintenance and compliance of malaria strategies and interventions to sustain the malaria-free status of Pangasinan.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ana de Guzman said achievement of malaria-free status in Pangaainan is attributed to the proper management and sustainable malaria control programs and activities in the different localities of the province. (Leonardo Micua)