LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – Former Ifugao Vice Governor Nora Dinamling’s advocacy for resolution of the still not functioning Ifugao General Hospital (IGH) in Lagawe is about what is happening today to distressed folks who are overwhelmed by the difficulties of travelling to a far-away Panuddupan District Hospital in Lamut. The long running inaction of highly-placed officials at the provincial government truly affects poor folks; underserved villages- even barangay council and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) officials, barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars as well as middle-income bracket earners.
Ms. Dinamling is now shifting her attention and strategy to another direction.
She welcomed the success of Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go in the last May midterm polls as a significant change in resolving the IGH issue and is hoping even the private sector is given a greater voice in finding a solution to this longstanding problem.
The decision to actively and strongly get the backing of Senator-elect Go therefore, was not a complete surprise. In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Dinamling hinted that something positive shall evolve with the assistance of Mr. Go.
Dinamling, a longtime supporter of President Duterte, is looking forward to the establishment of a “Malasakit Center” in impoverished Ifugao. “There are many things about the ‘Malasakit Center’ I want my province mates to benefit from it,” she said.
The biggest benefit of the “Malasakit Center,” Dinamling said, is assistance to folks who are sick and needy.
“Malasakit” is a Philippine national language word connoting age-old Filipino trait of manifesting concern and readiness to extend a helping hand for the less fortunate. It has been beneficial because it has somewhat spurred better conditions and feelings for a number of people in distress.
Go, former presidential special assistant, campaigned on the platform of putting up “Malasakit Centers” nationwide. Ifugao, one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, is not only confronting problems on poverty and unemployment, but is also facing acute shortage of hospitals, equipment and personnel.
Setting up a “Malasakit Center” in ifugao is not only beneficial to present-day marginalized folks but also to incoming generations.
A “Malasakit Center: in this part of the country is essential for sustainable development in Ifugao. Thus, all-out support of Dinamling for Senator-elect Go’s platform on the “Malasakit Center” reflected their commitment to do so much more for the people.
By focusing work within the health concerns, Dinamling believes that the “Malasakit Center,” on one hand, and the provision of a new hospital in Lagawe, on the other, presented a rare opportunity to implement pro-people projects of the Duterte administration that sincerely and genuinely address elements that bring about poverty and hardships in the province’s 11 towns.
In his campaign speeches, Go said the “Malasakit Center” would be prioritized in his legislative agenda if elected. He placed third overall in the so-called “Magic 12” winners circle. He ran under the ruling PDP-Laban party.
There are about 104 million million people living in the Philippines and almost 40% never see a doctor in their lifetime, according to the Department of Health (DOH). Many suffer a devastating experience one way or the other as a result of this appalling situation.
Dinamling said the high cost of living here and elsewhere would be a key factor “that will remind the government how just important the ‘Malasakit Center’ is in maintaining a healthy citizenry.”
The narrative of the clamor for a “Malasakit Center” is about this sickly and cash-strapped Filipino who cries out for help after which it all add up to the dilemma of the wait-and-see attitude of many if politicians are indeed going to fulfill their promises.
Not everyone wants to hear more of the promises- or better still of the “broken promises” of completing the hospital in the capital town. Many are condemning countless mistakes in handling the IGH problem.
The mass of voters in Ifugao are so far removed from the reality of the times. For most of the candidates refused to discuss the IGH problem. Only a few took the risky route. One of them was Ms. Dinamling. But many opted to look the other way. Most of them were noncommittal on the issue.
For now, commitment of Ms. Dinamling is her greatest resource in improving the plight of Ifugao folks- whether they voted for Go or not.
Who deserves the best of the planned expansion program for “Malasakit Center” today?
For Dinamling and many others, the answer is very obvious. The best way to contain major health problems and to share benefits of the health care program is to unleash the wonders of the “Malasakit Center” and services to help the populace at all times.
Dinamling, when asked if the incoming senator from Mindanao would be enthusiastic to her proposal for a “Malasakit Center” or even a new hospital in Lagawe, replied: “Well, his heart is for the poor and is fully aware of our problem.”
“Growing interest of President Duterte in propelling rural development provides an opportunity for the present administration to focus on the well-being of Ifugao folks,” she asserted.
“We also see it as an indicator of how serious the President is about in advancing his reformist agenda before his term ends in 2022,” she added.
Dinamling also said she was very proud of Senator-elect Go. Likewise, she backed the other proposals and plans of Go.
The establishment of “Malasakit Center” tops the legislative priorities of Senator-elect Go, who also wants to create a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers.
Go says the health care promotion, being a primordial concern of the officialdom, should be responsive to the changing needs of the country and its people.
A “Malasakit Center” in the countryside, he says, will bring the government much closer to the people, most especially the poor.
Meantime, extensive planning and preparations are required to realize the mounting calls for the establishment of a “Malasakit Center” in Ifugao. The expertise of those in the private sector should be earnestly tapped. For another, the difficulties in reaching far-flung indigenous peoples’ (IPs) communities should be considered. During the election campaign, Go said the IPs as a community is a vital sector in the country. Relatedly, there is a pressing need to educate IP communities in Ifugao on primary health practices and reduce ailments and deaths.
Medical centers or facilities are lacking in distant Ifugao villages. Health-related deaths (with reference to serious health conditions such tuberculosis, pulmonary diseases and dengue) are linked to poverty. These are wrongful deaths. The issue is not just dying, it is caused by lack of access to hospitals. This has led to a situation in what poor folks believe they have been neglected by the government.
On the other hand, it has also been observed that a “Malasakit Center” is essential in improving attitudes among the people toward health care systems. So it’s time to look for ways to upgrade the people’s welfare now because they do exist and the stakes are high. Admittedly, the “Malasakit Center” is among them.
It would still take considerable time to jumpstart everything. To leave the fate of a “Malasakit Center” to spin off in the province by chance is problematic itself since most of the people in the provincial government are known to move in a turtle-like mode. Moreover, many other matters related to the issue are to be scrutinized. There are measures for the prevention or cure of epidemics and the likes. For short: Health solutions in and health problems out.
Dinamling had also said that the DOH is looking at the situation through a number of angles.
She said there are several individuals who are supporting her health initiatives. “We have been laying the groundwork for quite some time now,” she added.
So, what motivates Ms. Dinamling and Senator-elect Go to go an extra mile in their advocacy for health care promotion? In Ifugao, incredibly stupid politicians continue to say that the health indicators of the people are alright and serious problems never happened. Of course, they’re rich and can afford the best hospitals in Nueva Vizcaya, Baguio City or Metro Manila. Surely, not the poor when it entails high cost of hospitalization. Dinamling and Go are certainly closer to the masses, the more focus they are getting from these two well-meaning figures. With their hearts, heads and hands they are helping their poor countrymen make their dream a reality.
So, how do you start the process of having a “Malasakit Center” in Ifugao? Start communicating with Senator-elect Go, the Chief Executive and Health Secretary Francisco Duque. Since the 18th Congress is about to open by middle of July, interest among the people is expected to soar high in the coming weeks. That beckons good prospects for the health sector; the kind of people Senator-elect Go can really help! What is going to happen next? The good news is that Senator-elect Go is going to start well by immediately buckling down to work on day one at his new-found office. This means he shall put the right button by placing the “Malasakit Center” at the center of his legislative action plan.
Worldwide, lack of hospitals affects millions of people. Ifugao is one of the nation’s emerging health or medical hotspots. Lagawe residents are at an increased risk of passing away in an emergency situation because of the extremely long distance to reach the oftenly congested, ill-equipped and undermanned hospital in Lamut or much less the privately-owned hospitals in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya.
Small wonder, Ms. Dinamling is so passionate in her advocacy and support of Senator-elect Go’s “Malasakit Center” platform. The “Malasakit Center” is indeed a classic that mirrored the view of tomorrow. The strategy is a response to avert a humanitarian crisis in a not-so-distant time.
Today, many are looking forward to more developments on the “Malasakit Center” program. The challenge lays in fast-tracking this noteworthy endeavor. Well, now is the time to move! **By Anthony A. Araos
