BONTOC, Mtn. Prov.– The Bontoc General Hospital here with a level one service capability and an authorized bed capacity of 100 is now being managed by a chief of hospital, Dr. Raquel Tannao S. Kanongkong, the first full blooded ‘Ifuntok’ to be appointed to such position.
She had her specialty training on general surgery (2011-2015) at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila. JRRMMC is known to have produced world class surgeons. She was employed as Medical Officer 3 at Bontoc General Hospital in 2010.
Kanongkong assumed the duties and responsibilities of the position, Chief of Hospital 1 on a permanent status at the Bontoc General Hospital based on the certificate of assumption of duty dated October 9, 2017 signed by Leonila Milagrose Malla-ao, Provincial Human Resources Management Officer.
As to her appointment signed by Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr., the effectivity of her appointment shall be the date of actual assumption of duty but not earlier than that of the issuance of the appointment which is the date of signing (October 9, 2017) of the appointing authority.
Her appointment to the position was approved permanent by Atty. Allyson Locano of the Civil Service Commission on November 13, 2017.
Bontoc General Hospital services include general medicine, surgery, obgyne, pediatrics, dialysis services, acupuncture/rehabilitation medicine and traditional/alternative medicine.
Meanwhile on December 29, 2017, Lacwasan, Board Member Cariño Tamang, Dr. Penelope Domogo, Dorothy Villanueva, Venus Ramos and Kanongkong accompanied Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito in his visit to Bontoc General Hospital. Ejercito is the chair of the Committee on Health and Demography whose jurisdiction covers all matters relating to public health in general, medical, hospital and quarantine services; population issues, concerns, policies and programs affecting individuals and their families, their effects on national, social and economic conditions.
Kanongkong disclosed that the senator committed to help in sourcing out funds for the procurement of a CT-scan machine.
Earlier the senator had breakfast at Archog Hotel with the governor, Provincial Administrator Amador Batay-an, Tamang, Venus Ramos and Kanongkong before visiting the Provincial Capitol.
On Rizal Day, December 30, 2017, the COH was tasked to hand the lei for the guest of honor and speaker. After the event, employees approached and wished her the best in her job.
In an interview on January 10, 2018, she said when asked about her dreams for BGH, ‘BGH will become a center for health and care through collaboration and reform with our health and care partners and stakeholders. We are looking to develop new and innovative models of care which will be delivered. We aim to improve patients’ access to services locally and improve our quality of service.’
‘I choose to work in BGH in spite of greener pasture outside because I love to work for the people of Bontoc. I find great interest and I am inspired to serve the people of the town where I grew up and its neighbors. With the skills that I have acquired from my trainings, I believe the best practice of my profession as a doctor is to serve and be an innovator in our very own Bontoc General Hospital and having been molded in the medical parlance as a surgeon, I take great pleasure and pride to serve the Bontoc community and neighboring areas.’
‘Our parents imbued in us their children especially our dad Luciano Macli-ing Kanongkong, values that we treasure. Our dad taught us that the best asset of philanthropy is to serve, the best way we can, the people of the town where we grew up and be innovators.’
‘As the COH of BGH, I envision to achieve a sustainable improvement in safer and better patient care over the next year. We build bold strategies and plan to close gaps by focusing on priorities and developing new opportunities to reshape and improve the trust and confidence in high quality patient centered care in BGH with a continued focus on improving accessibility. We aim to put in place the capability and capacity to deliver excellent health and care to society embracing new technologies and developing a fully engaged responsive workforce,’ she added.
Acquaintances describe her as approachable, happy and energetic. Many opined that the hospital will be taken care of the best way as the COH is still single. **Ferdie Cariño Castañeda
