To champion its longstanding mission to bring accessible healthcare to the Ilokano community, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), headed by Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, participated in the opening ceremony of National Hospital Week in the province, led by the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH & MC), earlier today.
This year’s celebration, with the theme, “Ospital: Pagbangon mula sa pandemya, Kayang-kaya basta’t sama-sama,” lauds the steadfast efforts of the health sector as they transition to the endemic phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to MMMH & MC.
“In the past two and a half years, talagang our medical sector and our national hospital in MMMH have really come to the forefront, and have protected and safeguarded our beloved province. And for that we can never truly express our full extent of our gratitude and I hope it’s not only in this pandemic where our health workers are appreciated.
[Kahit] may pandemya [man] o wala, we really must appreciate, compensate, and commend all health workers in the Philippines,” Gov. Marcos Manotoc expressed.
A Zumba session called “Hataw” was conducted after the program, which was attended by employees of PGIN and MMMH & MC, and delegations from several local government units.
The Governor proceeded to acknowledge the non-medical hospital personnel who are also COVID-19 frontliners:
“I would also like to mention ‘yong mga overlooked na personnel ng mga ospital. We know, of course, our esteemed doctors and nurses, but we also know everyone at our different hospitals, whether it be the administrative employees, or the janitors, or the [security] guards. Of course, for an organization to run well, it takes each and everyone of the organization to play their part. Kaya nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng mga kasam po natin.
Gov. Marcos Manotoc assured the medical institution continued support, noting that PGIN and MMMH & MC had previously collaborated on numerous projects for the improvement of the province’s health system, most notably the quick establishment of a COVID-19 testing laboratory at the early onset of the pandemic.
“We pledge to MMMH & MC to ensure na tuloy-tuloy ang suporta not only from the Provincial Government but also sa National Government as we embark on our journey to continue to improve equitable, affordable, and quality healthcare dito sa Pilipinas.”
On August 8, Gov. Marcos Manotoc, together with various health leaders in Ilocos Norte, made a commitment to foster stronger collaboration to ensure quality and affordable healthcare services to the Ilokano community during the Provincial Universal Healthcare Summit.
He emphasized the importance of a financially stable health system in which people from all walks of life, including the elderly, the poor, and the vulnerable, can access health services at an affordable price.
PGIN has allocated more than Php 700 million for the improvement of hospital infrastructure, the purchase of medical supplies, and the compensation of healthcare professionals over the last three years. The majority of the provincial government’s annual budget, or about Php 700 million, was directed this year into Ilocos Norte’s healthcare system.