ANGELES CITY -- “No Angeleño should be left behind in terms of health.”
This was underscored by Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. as he took the helm of the Angeles City Hall.
In his first year as the city mayor, he strengthened and revitalized the six Rural Health Units (RHUs) by providing more medicines and medical equipment such as dental chairs.
Dental chairs were installed in six RHUs and another one at the “Puso Center” for a total of seven dental chairs, Lazatin says.
He also stressed that medicine dispensary units at the city hall as well as in RHUs are also readily available to the public.
“Delivery of health services is now more efficient and accessible as I reminded RHU personnel to make themselves available at any given time to the public,” Lazatin said.
A total of P10 million worth of medicines was procured for all of the RHUs' medicine supplies.
Aside from this, Lazatin also promotes door-to-door delivery of medicines to the vulnerable members of the city.
To date, 5,391 Angeleños have received medicine assistance via door-to-door delivery.
Under Lazatin’s administration, the Puso Center was also established in February.
It is a three-in-one clinic where Angeleños could avail of free minor surgery, dental services, animal bite treatment, as well as free check-ups and medicines, Lazatin says.
To date, a total of 1,711 patients have been served.
The city government also administered free vitamin supplements and deworming vaccines to more than 4,000 children in the city.
Meanwhile, some 7,811 senior citizens have availed of the Anti-Flu Vaccination that was conducted in coordination with Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA), City Health Office (CHO), Gender and Development (GAD) Office, Barangay Affairs and Public Assistance Center (BAPAC), the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, and the Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine.
The city government also extended medical assistance to bed-ridden senior citizens in line with the Elderly Week celebration every October, where free medical check-ups and medicines were accorded to each senior citizen.
“Under my administration, we have been providing free mandatory annual physical examinations and other medical-related benefits for senior citizens and residents,” Lazatin said.
Apart from the P2 billion allotted for the improvement of Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), part of the city’s budget surplus will also be allocated for the procurement of medical equipment of RLMMC.
Newborn Screening Centers were also established in Angeles City to ensure the effective implementation of Republic Act 9709, otherwise known as the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009, Lazatin reiterates.
“This will further improve services and facilities at RLMMC, including the provision for medical supplies,” he added.
Improved tax collection
Meanwhile, for the first time in 13 years, the city, under the leadership of Lazatin has recorded a budget surplus of P192,961,702.95 for 2019.
This came in the heels of Lazatin’s move to implement sound fiscal management and intensify collection of Business and Real Property Taxes and other taxes, driven by the Business Permit and Licensing Division’s continuous inspection and the City Treasurer Office’s collections.
“The positive revenue collection is evident with the growing confidence of the business sector in our leadership,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin further reiterated that his administration will keep its promise to be a business-friendly city.
He will not increase business and real property taxes so as not to burden the members of the business sector, Lazatin says.
“For all and sundry, our administration is business-friendly. From the start, I have reviewed all ordinances that only serve as a mere burden to businessmen in the city,” he added.
The P20 tourism fee being imposed on hotel guests had been repealed and this gained positive reactions from the hotel operators, Lazatin stressed.
As promised, I did not increase business taxes or real property taxes in my term but rather continue to enforce strict and proper collection of taxes to increase the city’s budget, he added.
“Ours is a business-friendly city that continuously holds dialogues with members of the business sectors and makes sure their inputs are considered in the determination of business policies,” he said. (PR)