Davao de Oro province signs MOA for UHC implementation

The Province of Davao de Oro, together with its component Local Government Units (LGUs), formally ratified the full implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act during the joint signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Inter-LGU Cooperation on Local Health Systems Integration to assure optimal health care for every Dabawenyos.

On September 23, 2022, Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, together with the Local Chief Executives of the 11 municipalities, signed the MOA at the Activity Hall, Provincial Capitol which indicated the integration of local health systems into a province-wide health system (PWHS), where each party cooperates and takes shared responsibility for how collective resources or funds are organized, managed, delivered, and financed in the improvement of health care service delivery in Davao de Oro.

In PWHS, the provincial government and LGUs are tasked with carrying out their respective duties in managerial, technical, and financial integration as described in the MOA. Thus, the said collaboration between the parties will strengthen collaborative linkages through the generation, mobilization, and allocation of critical resources to achieve the effective and efficient delivery of optimum health care services as per the UHC act.

Provincial Health Officer Antonio P. Ybiernas said in his message that “we are here today to ink our commitment to each other” and through the collaborative efforts of the stakeholders, the province will succeed in achieving UHC.

“Since this is already in the province, the office of the governor, together with the PHO, mao nay mangunay niini. We have a new body, the Provincial Health Board (PHB) that will manage our health system” Dr. Ybiernas added.

Governor Gonzaga also signifies support to the full implementation of UHC which will surely benefit constituents for an equitable access to quality and affordable health care of goods and services, and protect them against financial risk.

“Karun jud nato na formalize ang pag-integrate sa atong pagtibangay para sa pag-atiman sa tanang health needs sa atong taga Davao de Oro…Congratulations natong tanan, this is the most significant step towards the realization of our UHC Act” Gov. Gonzaga said.

Present during the event were DOH-DCHD Regional Director Dr. Anabelle P. Yumang represented by DMO V of Davao de Oro PDOHO Dr. Annie P. La Rosa and LHS Cluster Head Dr. Vincent Schubert Malbas, and League of the Municipal Mayors President Ruperto S. Gonzaga III, together with the LCEs and MHOs of the municipalities. (JF, Photos by A. Dayao)