Pe±arrubia: The municipality of Pe±arrubia in Abra is effectively leveraging its Seal of Good Local Governance Incentive Fund (SGLGIF) to enhance local government services, with a particular focus on healthcare and disaster preparedness.
According to Philippines News Agency, Jean Smith Hernandez, Pe±arrubia's local government operations officer, stated that the local government unit (LGU) allocated its PHP1.1 million incentive from the 2024 SGLG fund to upgrade the Rural Health Unit (RHU), thereby providing residents with improved medical services. Hernandez highlighted that Pe±arrubia has consistently adhered to the specific guidelines for eligible programs and projects for the past six years, making it a consistent recipient of the SGLG award.
The SGLGIF is awarded to local government units demonstrating excellence in good local governance, and Pe±arrubia has utilized past incentives to construct a disaster risk reduction management building, a classroom, a daycare center, and procure a rescue vehicle. A significant addition to the RHU is a hematology machine, enabling residents to access free hematology testing, including complete blood count, platelet count, and hematocrit tests, with quicker and more accurate results.
Municipal Health Officer Dr. Elsa Gonzales reported that since the machine became operational, at least 92 patients from Pe±arrubia and nearby municipalities have benefited from the free testing. She emphasized that, for humanitarian reasons, they also accommodate patients from neighboring towns.
Mayor Geraldine Balbuena, in a private message, pledged to continue enhancing RHU services for Pe±arrubia residents and others seeking medical assistance. She noted that these improvements are made possible through a blend of local and external funding support, allowing them to provide essential services to patients while helping them save on costs.
The RHU, also licensed as a birthing facility for natural births, refers cesarean cases to hospitals. Additionally, it offers mental health counseling, TB DOTS services, and other general health programs. Mayor Balbuena committed to further improving their systems and maintaining compliance with SGLG requirements.
