Abra lawmaker prioritizes health, coops

THE priority of Abra Representatives Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos in the 15th Congress will be the improvement of health facilities and development of cooperatives in her province.

As a member of the majority in the House of Representatives, Bernos who acts as vice-chair of the committee on cooperatives development and North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, said she already has initial plans for the development of small cooperatives in her province.

Post your reaction to the Manila hostage crisis

Abra is currently the ninth poorest province in the country in terms of poverty incidence. Also included in the poorest municipalities in the country are some of the province's 27 towns.

Bernos stressed health and financing through cooperatives will help Abrenians improve their current living conditions.

Among the first bills authored by Bernos included House Bill 2584 converting the La Paz district hospital in La Paz town into a national hospital for further development of its facilities, which is now pending in the House committee on health of which she is a member.

Bernos said she was glad with working together as vice chair with former Mountain Province governor and now Rep. Maximo Dalog as chairperson of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle committee in the House.

She said this will help foster more development in terms of economic and infrastructure developments in Abra and Mountain Province.

Despite she does not have a committee chairmanship, the neophyte lawmaker said she was elated to have been granted membership in seven committees which include appropriations, games and amusements, health, natural resources, public order and safety, public works and highways and women and gender and equality.

As a member of the public works committee which Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan chairs, Bernos said this will pave way for more development of highways and important infrastructure needed by the region.

Currently, several road improvement projects linking Cordillera provinces are being studied by the Department of Public Works and Highways to ease intra-region travel.

Earlier, Bernos said she joins Abra Governor Eustaquio Bersamin in calling for the end of private armed groups. (JM Agreda)