Aiding the Ailments of the Community: The Angeles City Renal Care Story

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Written by Angeles City CIO Kevin Montalbo

Category: DILG Angeles City Latest Events

Published: 21 March 2012

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“We are convinced that Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan is doing an incredible job in fulfilling his health programs for his constituents and this is the reason why World Medical Relief Inc., (WMRI) continues to prioritize Angeles City among its recipients…”

This was the statement given by George Samson, Chief Executive Officer of WMRI who has pledged his support to Angeles City and its major health endeavors.

Since 1992, WMRI has been a partner of Angeles, particularly with Mayor Ed Pamintuan and his unwavering aspiration to provide affordable medical services thru the then Angeles City General Hospital. This was seen as an imperative mission in that year as Angeles was trying to recover from the devastation brought forth by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

Fast forward to 2011, Samson’s ties with the Mayor allowed the city to construct its very own Renal Care Unit (RCU) and provide over 300 dialysis treatments to Angeleños every month since June.  The said RCU currently caters to the poorest of the poor, giving discounts up to 75% for patients who can’t afford to pay the expensive treatments given in other private hospitals.

Seeing the staunch efforts of the local city government and Mayor Ed Pamintuan in boosting health care services in the city, several non-government organizations and private businesses in the city have pledged their support to the local government, especially in its battle for affordable and quality health care. Since its inception, the Renal Care Unit has already acquired dialysis equipment from such donors. In fact, this February, the local government just received a brand new dialysis machine and an ambulance from a certain hotel to even further its efforts in providing this service to the city’s constituents.

“This is a milestone achievement of our administration and a dream fulfilled for Angeleños who wish to have a sigh of relief from the expenses incurred by weekly dialysis treatments,” says Mayor Pamintuan.

Currently, the Angeles City Renal Care Unit, located at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center compound, boasts of its 19 dialysis machines and is now capable of providing over 400 treatments to several patients (both from Angeles and even nearby towns & municipalities) every month.

The construction of this dialysis center with its initial 15 machines is an unprecedented achievement and development in local governance and public health interest. This inspired Mayor Pamintuan to propose a resolution to several national government agencies and GOCCs to set aside 5% of their annual national operating budget for the establishment and operation of Renal Care Units or Centers in all cities of the country.

During the League of Cities of the Philippine’s (LCP’s) 47th National Executive Board meeting in Laoag City, the said resolution was approved after Pamintuan shared the experience of Angeles City in operating its own dialysis center and how much this has made a difference in the lives and families of the more than 100 patients who are undergoing and benefiting from the city government's health program.

Many have been skeptical at first, saying that the administration’s move to establish a dialysis center will most definitely sap the resources of the local government. However, because of the tremendous outpour of support from various organizations, businesses & private groups, and the trust of the people given to Mayor Pamintuan, the Renal Care Unit holds strong today, ultimately allowing Angeles City to become a catalyst for proper and affordable public health care all throughout the country.

Sec. Mar Graces UBAS Launching and MOA Signing in Nueva Ecija

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Written by DILG Nueva Ecija

Category: DILG Nueva Ecija Latest Events

Published: 24 January 2015

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    (left photo) seated from left: Gov. Umali, Sec. Roxas and LnB Pres. Abesamis during the MOA Signing.  Looking on are Rev. Apolinario Cunanan of the United Methodist Church, RD Dijan and PCSupt. Petrasanta 

     DILG Secretary Mar Roxas graced the Launching and MOA Signing of Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (UBAS) in Nueva Ecija on December 1, 2014 at Convention Center, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija. Assisting the Secretary were DILG R-3 Director Florida Dijan and DILG Nueva Ecija Provincial Director and OIC Assistant Regional Director Abraham Pascua.

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DILG – NE Holds Coordinative Meeting for the Inauguration of Spanish-Funded Projects

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Written by DILG Nueva Ecija

Category: DILG Nueva Ecija Latest Events

Published: 28 March 2014

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     DILG Nueva Ecija, under the leadership of OIC-Asst. Regional Director and concurrent NE PD Abraham A. Pascua, hosted on March 17, 2014 at the Provincial Auditorium in Cabanatuan City a Coordinative Meeting in preparation for the Inauguration of the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance Warehouse to be held on March 25, 2014 in Air Force City, Clark Field, Pampanga.

   Among the attendees were the Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija – through the Provincial Engineer’s Office, Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council and the Provincial General Services Office, as well as the Municipalities of Aliaga, Sto. Domingo, Zaragoza, Carranglan, Llanera, Rizal, Gabaldon and Laur and the City of San Jose. These Local Government Units, as represented by their respective Local Chief Executives, Municipal Planning and Development Officer (MPDO), Municipal Agrarian Officer (MAO) and Municipal Local Governemnt Operations Officer (MLGOO), are the lucky recipients of the Spanish assistance extended to help recover from Typhoon Quiel’s and Pharma’s damages in the province.
 

   In the inauguration, all the heavy equipment, learning materials and infrastructure and livelihood projects will be showcased for the Spanish delegation headed by His Excellency Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo y Marfil to appreciate the products of their goodwill.
    

   ARD Pascua reiterated during the Coordinative Meeting the importance of the said activity that all involved must prepare with full cooperation and excellence as a way of showing how thankful the Novo Ecijanos are for extending such kindness.