THE existence of short term and medium term health development plans in the barangays is needed to spell out the health programs that are to be implemented in the various barangays in the city.
This is the impetus behind the proposed ordinance filed by City Councilor Elaine Sembrano entitled “Mandating all barangays in the City of Baguio to formulate their respective integrated short term (annual) and medium term (three years) health development plans to be incorporated in their barangay development plans.”
In the proposed measure, a barangay development plan (BDP) shall not be considered complete without an integrated barangay health development plan (IBHDP) which shall be prepared by the barangay development council and shall be approved by a majority of the barangay council in session. In turn the said barangay health development plan shall be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) for favorable review.
In the formulation of an IBHDP, it shall be consistent with the basic services and facilities that a barangay is mandated to provide and with the following priority consideration: (a) activities in support of infectious disease prevention and control, maternal and child health, prevention of non-communicable diseases. Adolescent health development, health of the elderly and environmental health and sanitation, (b) disaster prevention and response, including disease outbreak and epidemics, (c) identification and maintenance of evacuation centers in case of calamities, (d) barangay nutrition action plan, (e) purchase and maintenance of emergency transport vehicles or setting up of community-based emergency transportation facilities, (f) construction, maintenance and/or repair of water and sewer system as well as power and communication facilities, (g) support for community health volunteers or teams, (h) solid waste management which may include purchase of related equipment and facilities, and (i) identification or purchase of lots for the construction and maintenance of barangay health stations and similar facilities.
The proposed ordinance also provides that the City Health Services Office (CHSO) and the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) shall render technical assistance to the barangay development council for the preparation of the barangays plans as identified to ensure that the plans, programs, projects and activities are in harmony with the local and national health development agenda.
Additionally, an annual assessment of the IBHDP shall be conducted by the barangay and the CHSO prior to the preparation of any subsequent IBHDP. The assessment will be included in a report to be submitted to the Punong Barangay (village chief) concerned as well as the CHSO and with copies furnished to the City Council and the City Mayor’s Office.
In pushing for the formulation of the said plans, Councilor Sembrano cited the general welfare provision of Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 which provides that, “Every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare. Within their respective territorial jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety xxx and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.”