Fresh from the recent barangay elections, barangay captains have been made to understand that the Botika ng Barangay (BnB) is public property.
In an interview, Davao del Norte provincial BnB coordinator Dr. Rowena Yap bared some issues and concerns of barangay captains, which mainly was on their roles and responsibilities.
During the BnB Program Implementation Review conducted Wednesday, misconceptions regarding BnB operations were cleared, and participating barangay captains were briefed on how the BnB is operated.
“BnBs are government property, so they have to turn them over to the succeeding administration,” Yap said.
Yap explained that barangay executives are expected to supervise the operation of BnBs and to sustain it so local people can readily avail of “safe, effective and affordable medicine.”
Aside from monitoring BnB operation, barangay captains are also expected to audit it and infuse financial assistance whenever the BnB is running short of funds to replenish stocks.
“There are barangays whose barangay council allots funds from their local coffers for BnBs,” she said in the dialect.
In Davao del Norte, 179 or 80 percent of its 223 barangays already have run their BnBs and provincial health office chief Dr. Agapito Hornido is hopeful to convince others to also put up their own.
Yap revealed that 20 more barangay executives Wednesday signified their interest to run a BnB this year.
Yap said most of those which have yet to put up BnBs are barangays in poblacion areas of component cities in the province.
Meanwhile, Yap cited best practices which have made the province as the leading implementer of BnB in Southern Mindanao.
Davao del Norte is the only province in the region which is providing counterpart funds of P25,000 in addition to the P25,000 initial capital from the Department of Health (DOH).
Part of the BnB sustaining mechanism of the provincial government is to conduct regular monitoring; offering seminars on accounting and bookkeeping, orientation; and holding quarterly consultation with barangay captains and BnB operators. [PIA 11/Jean D. Abangan]
On the other hand, Yap bared a number of additional products that BnBs are now allowed to sell such as skin care products, herbal medicine, fortified with iron products and family planning products.
Medicines which are usually sold in BnB are antibiotics, and those for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, common upper respiratory tract infection and for urinary tract infection.
