In Bacolod City, five local government units (LGUs) within Negros Occidental formalized a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Monday, aimed at bolstering the inter-local health zone (ILHZ) in alignment with the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act implementation.
The participating entities in this collaborative effort encompassed the cities of Talisay, Silay, and Victorias, along with the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Murcia, situated in the province’s third district.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez emphasized that this inter-LGU collaboration extends beyond mere compliance with the UHC Act; it signifies a crucial partnership to effectively address local health issues. He emphasized the importance of bringing local chief executives, city and municipal health officers, the Department of Health, and hospitals together to identify and address the specific health concerns of constituents.
Present at the signing ceremony, held at Maria Kucina Familia restaurant, were Mayors Joedith Gallego of Silay City, Victor Gerardo Rojas of Murcia, Talisay City Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio Lizares III, and E. B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon, represented by Assistant City Administrator Ismael Penado and Edgardo Agravante Jr., respectively.
Through the agreement, the LGUs acknowledge that the UHC Act seeks to tackle health system fragmentation by reorienting the health system towards strengthening primary care, primarily achieved through the integration of local health systems. This integration strategy involves LGUs jointly taking responsibility for organizing, managing, delivering, and financing collective resources.
The collaborative initiative aims to ensure the accessibility of essential, high-quality health products and services at the appropriate care level. It further seeks to enhance LGU leadership and management capabilities to organize and implement integrated management support systems. Additionally, the agreement serves the purpose of providing policy guidance and technical support to community groups in planning and implementing health programs and services.
Adrian Hort Ramos, development management officer IV of the Department of Health-Western Visayas, highlighted that the UHC Act has achieved functionality across all provinces and cities identified as implementation sites. He emphasized the collective effort to strengthen health service delivery, promoting a more people-centered approach.
Ramos also noted that in Negros Occidental, the Provincial Health Board has agreed to establish the sub-provincial health system. This system will group all six congressional districts into three systems, creating a robust health provider network.
SUMMARY
In Bacolod City, five local government units in Negros Occidental collaborated to strengthen the inter-local health zone in line with the Universal Health Care Act. The initiative, involving cities and municipalities, aims to address local health concerns, emphasizing shared responsibility for resource organization and enhanced health service delivery. The memorandum of agreement underscores the integration of local health systems, ensuring accessibility to quality healthcare. The Department of Health’s role in supporting this collaboration was highlighted, emphasizing the people-centered approach and the establishment of a sub-provincial health system in Negros Occidental.