BASIC dental health care service is hoped to reach indigents of La Trinidad, Benguet.
The unavailability and inaccesibility of providing basic dental health care services have pushed the lawmakers of the valley to create a law accommodating indigents of the 16 barangays in a bid to reduce oral diseases to indigents comprised of children, young adult, senior citizens and persons with disability.
The proposed law authored by Councilor Horacio Ramos, Estrella Adeban and Arthur Shontogan was approved on second reading.
Ramos cited dental care remains the least priority adding residents would rather spend their money for food or medicine.
The lawmaker added accessibility of dental health services in far flung areas with marginalized population remains a problem of the municipality.
With the proposed law, it will further enable the health center to have a better chance of providing a more sustainable approach in the delivery of oral health care programs mostly to unserved areas within the locality.
"Only few can afford to go for private clinic, the nearest they could go to are the health centers in the barangays," Ramos said.
Once the law is passed, dental mission, education information campaign, and other relevant dental health service will be provided by the municipality.
Moreover, the ordinance aims to upgrade the barangay health centers with the proper facilities and equipments for the efficient delivery of dental health services.
Under the law, a La Trinidad Dental Health Service committee will be created to promulgate measures and policies relative to dental health service delivery of education and promotions.
The necessary funding for the implementation of the ordinance to be incorporated in the annual budget of the Municipal Health Services Office.