THE Bacolod City Council has approved a resolution requesting Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to convene the Local Health Board.
Resolution author Councilor Claudio Puentevella, who is the chairperson of the City Council committee on health, said Section 15 of Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
Puentevella said Republic Act 7160, known as the Local Government Code of 1991 mandates that the Local Government Units shall exercise powers and discharge functions and responsibilities which are necessary, appropriate or incidental to efficient and effective provision of basic services and facilities.
He added that the Bacolod City Local Health Board shall be headed by the City Mayor as the chairman, the City Health Officer as vice-chairman, and the chairman of the committee on health and sanitation.
It is also proposed that a representative from the private sector or non-governmental organizations involved in health services, a representative from the Department of Health in the city, executive assistant for health, and representative from the Disaster Reduction Management Office as members.
Puentevella noted that the Bacolod City Local Health Board shall serve as an advisory committee to the City Council concerned on health matters such as, but not limited to, the necessity for, and application of local appropriations for public health purposes.
Puentevella disclosed that all concerns on health can be best addressed with a functioning health board, thus, enhancing the efficient and effective delivery of basic health services and program of the City Health and the City of Bacolod, and the creation of which is imperative to the delivery of basic health services and improvement of health facilities.