The Ilocos Times

  Unveiling of the Malasakit Center By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—A one-stop shop “Malasakit Center” for patients in need of medical and financial assistance is now open at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital, or more popularly known as the provincial hospital, to ensure that government health services should be accessible for all Filipinos. With an initial fund of PHP5 million, with the check personally turned over to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong" Go and his party who arrived in the city for the launching of the country’s 101 st “Malasakit Center”. “ Ang requirement lang po dito sa ‘Malasakit Center’ ay basta Pilipino ka. Walang pinipili ang center na ito ,” Go remarked. “ Kami po ay nandito upang makapagbigay ng kaunting tulong sa mga pasiente. At kung may pasiente kayo na hindi kayang operahan sa inyong hospital , willing kaming tumulong sa Maynila pati pamasahe ay sas...

By John Michael Mugas (Contributor) LAOAG CITY—The biggest public hospital in the province of Ilocos Norte was recognized on December 16, 2020 by an international health association for its commitment on providing exceptional health services amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) was one of the 103 hospital recipients across 28 countries of the International Hospital Federation’s (IHF) Beyond the Call of Duty For COVID-19 award. The recognition came as Ilocos Norte experienced a sudden surge of COVID-19 cases in the past days breaching the 400-mark. MMMH&MC shared the award with other hospitals from the Philippines including Caba District Hospital, Makati Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Manila Doctors Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Region II Trauma and Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. The list of winners was a...

Laoag City —At the beginning of his term, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc pledged to "further develop Ilocos Norte by investing in the health of Ilokanos," recognizing his constituents as "greatest assets" of the province.   With this, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte has been expanding its healthcare infrastructure to increase the capacities of all government-managed hospitals in the province. For the fiscal year 2020, the provincial government allocated over PHP118 million for the improvement, rehabilitation, and renovation of the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH) and the province’s district hospitals. Included in the completed infrastructure projects in GRBASMH are the improvement of the computerized tomography (CT) scan building, renovation of the intensive care unit (ICU) room, and the rehabilitation of comfort rooms. Also included are the rehabilitation of the operating and delivery rooms of Dingras Distri...

  State-run Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center initiates a virtual workshop-simulation of Tangguyob: An integrated referral and disaster management system among health-workers and IT specialists from several public health facilities across the province. The referral system is set to be fully implemented on December 1, 2020 and is eyed to strengthen MMMH&MC's health-care provider network with institutions in Ilocos Norte as well as its neighboring provinces. ( Photo courtesy of Jazper Quemquem) City of Batac—As it aims to strengthen the cooperation among health facilities across Ilocos Norte and its neighboring provinces, state-run Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC) in this city is gearing to fully implement a digital integrated referral system on December 1, 2020. Dubbed as “Tangguyob”, which refers to a local carabao-horn instrument used in the early days to summon people for a tribal meeting or affair, the system was developed t...

  By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) officials strongly denied allegations that the hospital is on the “verge of bankruptcy”. In a press conference held October 1, 2o20 at the LCGH, chief of clinics Dr. Mary Ann Yasay-Luis and hospital administrator Dr. Elizer Asuncion presented the accounts payable of the hospital since June 2011 to June 2019, in the amount of PHP78 million. The debt is to hospital suppliers. The longtime LCGH administrator said the new administration “unluckily inherited” these payables. He added “it’s not easy to manage the hospital without fund available on its day-to-day operation, however, the operation of the hospital must continue to operate in order to serve the people who are in need of medical assistance”. Mr. Asuncion also pointed out that when the new city administration assumed the reins of power, LCGH was already living akin to “ isang kahig, isang tuka ” existence. Due to the PHP78 mi...

  By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The city government here is appealing to all health professionals who are bona fide residents or trace their roots in this city from here and abroad to lend their expertise pro bono in transforming the Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) from a health institution on the verge of bankruptcy to a truly earning economic enterprise. In their regular session, the Sangguniang Panlungsod unanimously approved a measure sponsored by the committee on health appealing to all health professionals to elevate the present economic status of the city hospital. Laoag councilor Jaybee Baquiran, who sponsored the measure, said the present administration was shocked to discover the hospital’s present condition. The 10-year-old city hospital was earlier announced as “a noble and economically feasible” as it was declared to be an economic enterprise. Mr. Baquiran, who chairs the committee on health, explained the present administration dis...

  The Ilocos Norte COVID-19 testing lab  (Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center-HEPO/Public Health Facebook Page) Laoag City —The second Department of Health (DOH)-held hospital to be certified for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing in the Ilocos Region and the first to utilize GeneXpert technology, Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) in Batac City can now offer COVID-19 testing. "We had our GeneXpert already operational at MMMH&MC and we thank them. They have passed the Practical Competency Exam, accreditation, and training. They have already been certified by DOH so hopefully, it shouldn’t take very long before they can start testing," remarked Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc in his latest press briefing.  Notably, the GeneXpert technology got accredited before the laboratory's polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine. The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the leadership...

BATAC CITY—Boosting its capability to detect the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) among Northern Luzon residents, state-run Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) here gets additional accreditation to conduct real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. The license to operate an RT-PCR test was given by the Department of Health (DOH) which recognizes it as the “gold-standard” in diagnostic confirmation for people who might have contracted Covid-19. Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, medical center chief II, called the accreditation a “notable achievement” despite having recorded a third Covid-19 positive case in over two months. “We share this accomplishment with the provincial government through the leadership of Governor Matthew Marcos-Manotoc,” added Dr. Otayza. Earlier this month, MMMH&MC was also given a go signal to operate an independent Covid-19 testing molecular laboratory with a first accreditation to conduct rapid PCR test using the alter...

HEALTH  workers of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center wave to Covid-19 positive survivors following their release at the hospital. (File photo courtesy of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center's official Facebook page). By John Michael Mugas BATAC CITY—When the Philippine government imposed a total lockdown in Luzon island in March, most were mandated to “stay at home” to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 ( Covid -19). During that time, the world was already on a standstill with many countries already waging a war against an unseen enemy. Fear abound from all walks of life as Covid -19’s death toll continues to rise day by day. While some of us had our share of sacrifice by being safe inside our homes, there are those who needed to be outside while carrying the heavy responsibility of building the country’s defenses against Covid-19. Shining through these difficult times, they are our modern-day heroes—our health worke...

Laoag City —The Provincial Governm ent of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) has officially received its requested units of ambulance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), in front of the Provincial Capitol Building in this city on April 7, 2020. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, along with the heads of hospitals in the province who are recipients of the donation, witnessed the arrival of the first two out of four patient-transport vehicles, which the PCSO earlier pledged. The receiving hospitals will primarily use the ambulances as additional transport services addressing coronavirus-related concerns. “ Gusto naming magpasalamat dahil du mating na ang request ng provincial government. Wala pang mga medical equipment at instruments sa loob [ambulance] kaya magdadagdag tayo ng mga kulang at kailangan para maging full-pledged ambulance ang mga ito . ‘ Yung next two ambulances ay parating na rin , so we really thank our friends from PCSO,” Mr. Manotoc expres...

Laoag City —To address the suspension of public transportation services due to the national government's efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC), in partnership with the Provincial Resiliency Office of the Ilocos Norte Government now provides free transportation services for health personnel and medical patients starting March 21, 2020.   The medical transportation service of the PGIN is free. However, only patients from the province who undergo dialysis and chemotherapy treatment are allowed. The Provincial Government encourages persons with medical needs to reach the MINC Office at telephone number: 772-1212 (loc. 166), or mobile numbers: 0910-812-1758 (Smart) and 0917-116-0004 (Globe) for the arrangement of schedules. ( Stewart C. Ocampo )

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Piddig , Ilocos Norte—A two-storey drug reformation and rehabilitation center is now open to serve former drug dependents in this town. In a simple program during the opening and blessing of the newly-refurbished Bahay Silangan building located at Brgy. Anao here, just within the compound of the former Gakki Center in the municipality, Piddig Mayor Engr. Eduardo “Eddie” Guillen hopes the building will become a functional structure equipped with a state-of-the-art municipal library that will be open round the clock. “We want the building to be highly functional so there will be computers with high-speed internet so everybody can use it anytime and it’s free,” said Mr. Guillen. According to the mayor, having an accessible internet connection is now a necessity these days. “Generally, when it comes to macro managing, people become more productive when they have access to internet as it provides them boundless opportunitie...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The Department of Health (DOH) is set to donate medical equipment to the Laoag City General Hospital. This development came following the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s approval of three resolutions authorizing Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon to deal with the DOH for the said donation, DOH Director IV Dr. Valeriano Jesus V. Lopez will represent the health department. The donation will include a brand new unit of hematology analyzer worth PHP181,555.50; a brand new unit of table top sterilizer worth PHP33,000; and a brand new unit of pharmaceutical refrigerator worth PHP98,445. Giving quality health care, the Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) is set to have brand new laboratory equipment. Laoag councilor Juan Conrado A. Respicio II said the acquisition of said laboratory equipment is funded from the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of 2017 worth PHP70 million which the DOH granted to Laoag. Mr. Respi...

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor The government can still do more to make medicine prices the cheapest possible, Senator Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos said, after President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered a price ceiling on 133 medicines. Ms. Marcos said that exempting the sale and importation of medicines from the value-added tax (VAT) could further reduce the maximum retail and wholesale prices of select medicines, which Executive Order No. 104 will subject to a review every six months. The senator added that the 56% average discount seen in the EO’s regulation of medicine prices could be larger because pharmaceutical companies themselves have said they could afford price reductions of up to 75%, before the EO was signed. More than half of the P413 billion Filipinos spent on health services in 2018 went to pharmaceutical companies, Ms. Marcos said, citing Philippine Statistics Authority numbers. She added that Department of Health (DoH) estimates put t...

Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon and Laoag Vice Mayor Vicentito Lazo, Laoag councilors Rbee Ablan, and Jaybee Baquiran, Dr. Eliezer Asuncion, LCGH chief of hospital and Dr. Mary Ann Luis, LCGH chief of clinics witness the delivery of new medical equipment for the Laoag City General Hospital: three units of hemodialysis and (2) units of chemical analyzer. The mayor hopes that the new equipment will further improve the delivery of services at LCGH and boost the income of the hospital, and ultimately benefit the people of Laoag. (Doms dela Cruz)

Laoag City —The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) has intensified the hiring of additional medical practitioners to augment the province’s health workforce.   Fe P. Siazon, provincial human resource management officer, disclosed that the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH) will be opening four vacancies for Nurse II, another four for Nurse I, and several casual and job order positions for the provincial hospital. “For our district hospitals, we are waiting for the final list of job vacancies. Maybe next week, we can publish and eventually fill the positions,” Ms. Siazon added. Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc continues to reinforce his commitment to revitalizing the province’s health sector, saying: “Our hospitals are filling up long-vacant and urgent staff positions, repairing old and damaged wards, as well as increasing expenditure in medicines and laboratory testing.” The primary thrust of this year’s bud...

  Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua turns over the PHP3 million check as medical trust fund to MMMH-MC chief Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on January 30, 2020. (Doms dela Cruz) By Leilanie G. Adriano and Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporters CITY of batac —The city government here turned over on January 30,2020 a check for PHP3 million which is intended as medical trust fund to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) for indigent patients from this city in need of assistance when they are treated at the government hospital. According to Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua, the city medical trust fund aims to provide immediate assistance to hospital bills, medicines and/or diagnostic procedures to less fortunate in-patient and out-patient residents of Batac. “We will prioritize indigent or needy residents with hospital expenses which are not covered by the PhilHealth,” said Mr. Chua. With a readily available amount, r...

City of Batac —Patients of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) here can now transact their hospital bills through cashless payment option as the hospital recently partnered with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). In inking the deal, both state-run institutions aim to make transactions with patients faster and more convenient through improving processes relating to payment of hospital bills which usually derails patients. Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, medical center chief II, lauded this initiative by “putting the hospital’s management on the right track” especially at a time when MMMH&MC is trailing to become a fully-accredited Performance Governance System institution which upholds true and genuine governance. With the cashless payment option for patients, MMMH&MC shall receive payment of hospital bills from patients through valid debits and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) as well as prepaid cash cards issued by LBP or by...