The late Rep. Maximo Dalog of Mt. Province and Baguio mayor Mauricio Domogan led two other officials who were cited last week-end by the association of dialysis patients here for their contributions to the cause of people suffering from the ailment that has to be managed for a life time.
The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center Dialysis Patients and Partners Association cited Dalog “ for his deep sense of community and insight in organizing the Kataguan Dialysis Patients Organization in order to effectively harness and provide support to patients who trace their roots to Mtn. Province and are undergoing expensive and life-time dialysis”.
Honored also was Domogan for several actions for dialysis patients, on top of which was his having personally followed up a city council resolution asking the Philhealth to double its free-dialysis support to patients from 45 to 90 sessions a year.
The association likewise noted the mayor’s having included a fun run in Baguio’s founding anniversary activities that raised fund support to dialysis patients, having approved city council resolutions for the opening of a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office here so it can extend its support to dialysis patients and for having endorsed another resolution for a signature campaign to make dialysis a free medical service it being an emergency, life-saving procedure.
The mayor likewise assured the group it will continue to be a beneficiary of the annual Mayor Domogan Cup, a golf tournament coinciding with his birthday to raise support funds to charitable institutions.
In honoring Dalog, the group pointed out that the organization of Kataguan was “to maximize official and personal support to dialysis patients who trace their roots to Mtn. Province.”
“Such concern has led to the easing up of the financial burden of patients who are, by blood, marriage or kinship, are considered from Mtn. Province through the support of His Honor who had rallied natives of the province to assist the ailing as if they were family, thus keeping alive the strong kinship that is the mark of the province,” the citation read.
City councilor Peter Fianza was likewise honored for resolutions he authored that led to the opening of the PCSO branches here and in Mtn. Province, the double increase in the number of Philhealth-supported dialysis, and another resolution endorsing the on-going signature campaign towards free dialysis launched by the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club and the Philippine Information Agency.
City councilor Michael Lawana was likewise cited for having initiated a golf tournament and turning over its proceeds to the dialysis patients association.
Rep. Mark Go, who inducted the association officials, likewise assured his continuing support through his medical assistance allocation while working on the approval by Congress of his bill to make dialysis a free medical service given its nature as an emergency, a life-saving procedure.
Heading the new officers are Milagros Lacdao as president and Maribel Cruz as vice-president.
Others are Charity Ticuan Montellana – secretary 1, Grace Binay-an – secretary 2, Gemma Paz Sibaen treasurer 1, Delia Ogas – treasurer 2, business managers Mario Endrade, Benito Gonzales, and Jones Buteng; Rio Recile and Liza Galong as press relations officers.
Composing the board of trustees are Dominador Perez, Dorothy Co-oy, Thelma Biadno and Magdalena Orpilla. **Ramon Dacawi
