Department of Health (DOH) 11 Region Director Abdullah Dumama, Jr., hailed Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario for making health a top priority of the province.
Dumama, who is knowledgeable in the provision of both public health and hospital health care, said a good local chief executive gives highest level of importance to the well-being of his people.
He affirmed del Rosario “is a good leader” since the governor has put better health the first among his priority programs.
“Yun ang gauge ko na ‘pag magaling ang isang leader ay health program ang laging inuuna (a good leader makes health his/her top priority),” he said.
The director praised the efforts of del Rosario after turning over to the governor P52-million worth of hospital facilities and equipment intended for the Davao del Norte Provincial Hospitals, particularly in the Kapalong, Carmen and Samal Zones.
Del Rosario said he made the paradigm shift after finding out the more than 400 infrastructure projects worth around P1 billion that he implemented on his previous term have not truly reduced poverty in the province.
This prompted him to refocus his programs on improved health, better education and increased livelihood opportunities in order to achieve human development, through his development agenda P.E.O.P.L.E.
“Health cannot wait,” he said, saying that ensuring the well-being of the people is the best way to eliminate poverty, as it is also one of the basic foundations of development.
While improving the efficiency of the provincial hospitals, the governor also strengthened his people’s capacity to access improved medical services by enrolling close to 29,000 Philhealth beneficiaries last year.
This complemented the enrolments under PNoy-sponsored beneficiaries in order to attain, Kalusugang Pangkalahatan, which is the Aquino government’s flagship program on health.
