OVER 30,000 beneficiaries may benefit from the P30 million worth of maintenance medicines provided by the Cebu City Government.
These medicines will be spread throughout the City and said to last for a year.
On Friday, June 27, 2025, Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia launched the medicine maintenance program at the Super Family Health Center in Barangay Apas.
The launching was attended by the health center’s head Dr. Grace Valdez and some beneficiaries.
Garcia said in a press conference that when he was still serving as the acting mayor, he had been planning to provide maintenance medicines to Cebu City residents. However, due to bureaucracy, processes delayed the release.
He said the barangay health centers had been identifying the beneficiaries. Garcia added that a barangay consultation will be made to provide checkups to the residents who wish to be part as a beneficiary.
Garcia said that no medicines will be dispensed unless a valid receipt is shown.
“Basta makakupot lang sila og resita, pwede na sila makakuha og libre nga medicines sa atong gobyerno,” he said.
Since the turnover will be on June 30 for the next administration, which is roughly three days from Friday, Garcia said he will leave the responsibility of rolling out the medicines across the city to the incoming officials.
“Ang pamaagi, it’s really up to the next administration. Ila bang iadlaw-adlaw, senemana, or buwan-buwan, sila na ana,” he said.
Garcia said the system will be “until supplies last,” emphasizing that he believes it to last for a year.
During the press conference, a senior citizen cried at the back of Garcia, expressing her emotions for the election loss of the mayor during the May polls.
Jobita Obejero, 78, a resident of Calvary Hills, said that she mourned the election loss of Garcia.
Obejero said that this was the first time she experienced having free medicines from the City Government.
“Karon ra ni Mayor. Ang iyang project iyang gituman bisag wala na siya,” she said.
Obejero expressed her hopes that the project will be continued by the next administration. (JPS)